JACKSON, Tenn. - The Union University Student-Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) hosted the inaugural Top Dawg Awards, Friday, April 26 in the Carl Grant Events Center. The awards show honored several Union University student-athletes for their efforts in the 2018-19 season, while also crowning a Mr. and Miss. Top Dawg for the year.

SAAC President Kristen Pickens and catcher for the Union softball team led the charge in planning and organizing the event. She and the rest of the SAAC produced a very successful first event and was enjoyed by student-athletes, staff, and administration.  Pickens said, "Have you met the Union athletes? They are so easy to celebrate! The Top Dawg Awards allowed our SAAC members to come together from different sports and work towards one common purpose: celebrating Bulldog Athletics. We can't wait for next year!" 

The top three individual awards including Mr. Arthur Johnson receiving the Heart of Service Award. Mr. Top Dawg, given to the male athlete of the year at Union, went to Nolen Milton (baseball), while the Miss. Top Dawg, given to the female athlete of the year, went to Jada Perkins (women's basketball). 

Below is a list of award winners from the event. The awards were voted on by the student-athletes and coaches. 














Mr. Top Dawg
Nolen Milton (baseball)

Miss. Top Dawg
Jada Perkins (women's basketball)

The Heart of Service Award
Mr. Arthur Johnson

The Heart of a Champion Award
Ashley McCormick (women's golf)
McKenna Montgomery (women's basketball)
Alli Herring (women's soccer)
Georgia Hopkins (women's soccer)
Amanda Leatherwood (women's cross country)
Courtney Ondrus (women's volleyball) 
Kristen Pickens (softball)
Trey Tidwell (men's golf)
Levi Shaw (men's basketball)
Zach Boothe (men's soccer)
Joshua Whitney (men's cross country)
Scott Shearer - (baseball)

The Buster Award
McKenna Montgomery (women's golf)
Jada Smith (women's basketball)
Natalie Nagy (women's soccer)
Gladys Kipchumba (women's cross country)
Anna Claire Winchester (volleyball)
Ashten Petty (softball)
Blake Karnes (men's golf)
Tylandrius Parks (men's basketball)
Felipe Firmino (men's soccer)
Caleb Allen (men's cross country)
Josh Frantz (baseball)

The Trailblazer Award
Delaney Sain (women's golf)
Elli Pratt (women's basketball)
Alice Nelson (women's soccer)
Amanda Leatherwood (women's cross country)
Christa Karns (volleyball)
Haley Barnette (softball)
Cal Templeton (men's golf)
Tyree Boykin (men's basketball)
David Hurtado (men's soccer)
Forrest White (men's cross country)
Nolen Milton (baseball)

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