June 18, 2007

Senior Jameson Otto (Carrollton, TX/Creekview HS) and sophomore Marisa Mauldin (Utopia, TX/Utopia HS) have been announced as the 2006-2007 recipients of the Dr. Tex Kassen and Carla Lowry Awards, given annually to the top male and female student-athletes at Southwestern University.

Otto became SU's first ever male cross country runner to reach the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship in 2006. The senior qualified for the national meet by posting his best-ever finish at the South/Southeast Regional, finishing 10th after falling one place shy of qualifying in 2005.

At the championship meet, he finished 185th out of 279 runners. He ran through awful conditions and finished the muddy race just under three minutes behind the NCAA Division III National Champion.

Otto was the recipient of the Pirate Anchor Award for the 2006-2007 school year, given to the male and female scholar-athlete who embodies the spirit and character of the entire SU community.

"Jameson had an outstanding career as a student-athlete in our men's cross country program. It is a tribute to his heart and determination that he achieved his goal of qualifying for the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships. Throughout his career he has been a leader for our program and helped raise the standard of excellence for all of our cross country student-athletes. I know that Dr. Tex Kassen would have been very proud of Jameson's success on the course, in the classroom, and as a member of the Southwestern community," said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Glada Munt.

Mauldin, a sophomore member of the women's golf team, helped lead the Pirates to a fourth place finish at the NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championship. At the championship event, Mauldin finished in a tie for 15th place out of 111 competitors. By placing fourth, the team brought home the school's first trophy from a NCAA championship event.

Mauldin earned Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference women's Golfer of the Year by winning the individual title at the conference championship. Her low score helped Southwestern to its first SCAC Championship since 1999 and she also was named First Team All-SCAC.

Mauldin received Second Team All-American laurels along with All-Region honors in the Great Lakes region. During the season, she was the Pirates' top-finisher on four occasions.

"Marisa's performance this year was exceptional both as a performer in competition and as a leader for our women's golf team. She not only led the team to the SCAC championship and a fourth place finish at the NCAA Division III Women's Golf Championship, but she was also a stellar performer in the classroom as she earned Academic All-Scholar honors and was considered by her teammates to be the heart of our team. I know that Dr. Carla Lowry, as an avid golfer, is as proud as I am of Marisa and all that she accomplished this year," added Munt.

The two student-athletes will be honored and receive their rewards on November 30 at the Robertson Center on an evening when the Pirate men's and women's basketball teams will be playing a doubleheader.

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