Miami University

The Mid-American Conference office announced its 2019 Volleyball Academic All-MAC Team on Wednesday. For Miami, a record nine members made the squad in senior middle hitter Margaret Payne, senior outside hitter Taylor Daignault, senior defensive specialist Lindsay Dauch, junior setter Morgan Seaman, junior libero Abigail Huser, junior right side hitter Sarah Wojick, junior right side hitter Avarie Powell, sophomore outside hitter Gaby Harper and sophomore outside hitter Sophie Riemersma. The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. True freshmen and first-year transfers are not eligible for the honor.

The Mid-American Conference announced its 2019 postseason volleyball awards on Wednesday. For Miami, senior middle hitter Margaret Payne was named First-Team All-MAC. Sophomore outside hitter Gaby Harper was named All-MAC Honorable Mention.

The Mid-American Conference announced its weekly volleyball awards on Monday. For Miami, junior libero Abigail Huser was named the MAC East Division Defensive Player of the Week. Junior Morgan Seaman and sophomore Louise Comerford were named the MAC East Division Setters of the Week. For Huser it is her first weekly honor of the season. For Seaman and Comerford it is the third time this season and second straight week they have won this award.

The Mid-American Conference announced the results of its preseason men's basketball poll as voted upon by the coaches on Thursday. The RedHawks were picked to finish fourth in the MAC East Division. In addition, junior guard Nike Sibande was selected to the preseason All-MAC East Division Team. Sibande was a Third-Team All-MAC selection last season after averaging 16.1 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He became the first player in Miami history to score 1,000 career points in his first two seasons.

The Mid-American Conference announced its weekly volleyball awards on Monday. For Miami, junior right side hitter Avarie Powell MAC East Offensive Player of the Week, while junior Morgan Seaman and sophomore Louise Comerford were named the MAC East Setters of the Week. It is the second time this season for each of them to win this honor.

The 23rd annual Women of Excellence awards luncheon, presented by the YWCA of Piqua, was held on Thursday at the Piqua Country Club, during which Deb Oexmann, Lorna Swisher, and Cassidy Hemm were honored. Both Oexmann and Swisher were named 2019 Women of Excellence, and Cassidy Hemm was named the 2019 Young Woman of Tomorrow. The awards were presented by Women of Excellence Committee member Terry Naas, who shared details about each woman's life and dedication to their work.

The Mid-American Conference announced its weekly volleyball awards on Monday. For Miami, senior middle hitter Margaret Payne was named MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week. The RedHawks' 6-2 combo of junior Morgan Seaman and sophomore Louise Comerford were named MAC East Division Setter of the Week.

Two current Farmer School students and two recent graduates are among 14 people named to Cincinnati Inno's Under 25 list for 2019. "The innovators on our list are from all over the Queen City, tackling a host of unique problems in different industries and companies," the magazine explained. "All are doing the kind of work that both bolsters the Cincinnati tech and startup ecosystem and has the potential to impact the whole world." Laura Mena, a senior marketing and entrepreneurship major, and Andy Newman, a senior finance major, made the list for their work with RedHawk Ventures, a student-led seed stage venture capital fund with the John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship that recently announced a plan to raise a $1.5 million fund to invest in startups created by Miami students and alumni. "The Farmer School of Business and John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship takes pride in preparing tomorrow's entrepreneurial leaders to be 'beyond ready' when they graduate, which is one reason we are excited to see our seniors and recent entrepreneurship graduates named to Cincy Inno's list of top entrepreneurs in StartupCincy for 2019," Dr. Tim Holcomb noted.

The Mid-American Conference announced its weekly volleyball awards on Monday. For Miami, earning MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week is junior middle hitter Avarie Powell. It is the first weekly MAC honor of her career. Powell's breakout season continued as she put down 25 kills in only six sets, an average of 4.17 kills per set. She made only four errors in 38 attempts for an incredible .553 attack percentage. It started in Miami's three-set sweep over Buffalo. Powell put down 12 kills and had a .588 attack percentage. She was the bright spot in the Akron match as well, leading the RedHawks with 13 kills and a .524 attack percentage. Powell had two block assists on the weekend and finished with 26 points, an average of 4.33 per set.

Twelve extremely accomplished first-year students from across the country and around the world comprise Miami University's inaugural class of the Presidential Fellows Program. Miami University's premier scholarship, the Presidential Fellows Program offers recipients a merit award to cover tuition, fees, room and board. Students also will receive a one-time academic enhancement fund of $5,000 for activities such as study abroad or professional conferences.

The Mid-American Conference announced its first weekly volleyball awards of the season on Tuesday. For Miami, senior middle hitter Margaret Payne was named MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week. Payne, from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan earned All-Tournament honors at the Miami Best Western Sycamore Inn Invitational as she led the RedHawk volleyball team to a 2-1 record at its season-opening tournament. Payne totaled 31 kills in three matches, an average of 2.82 kills per set. She made only nine attack errors in 62 attempts for a .355 hitting percentage. Payne also recorded 12 blocks (four solo and eight assisted), scoring a total of 39.0 points for Miami over the weekend.

Ten seniors received the 2019 Provost's Student Academic Achievement Award (PSAAA). The award is given annually to students who have achieved an outstanding record of academic excellence and have made sustained and significant contributions to the intellectual climate of a department, an academic division or the campus.

Miami University awarded more than 590 degrees to students during summer term. The public university's Oxford campus, located in southwestern Ohio, offers bachelor's degrees in 122 areas of study. Graduate students choose from more than 60 master's degree and 13 doctoral degree programs. Eighteen bachelor's degrees and 19 associate degrees are offered at Miami's regional locations.

Miami University Athletes Allie Grace Joyner and Lexie Nugent have been selected for the USAFH Young Women's National Championship. They are the first in Miami field hockey history to be selected for this competition.

Miami University student Yue Peng spent the summer 2019 semester in London as part of a study abroad program. Peng, from Oxford (45056) is majoring in Mathematics.

Miami University student Yue Peng spent the summer 2018 semester in Barcelona as part of a study abroad program. Peng, from Oxford (45056) is majoring in Mathematics.

Several Miami University students have received national scholarships to support their study abroad programs this summer and fall.

Megan Zahneis received the 2019 AHEAD Student Recognition Award on July 13 at the organization's annual conference in Boston. AHEAD, The Association for Higher Education and Disability, is the leading voice for higher education professionals invested in creating welcoming higher education experiences for disabled individuals. Zahneis helped establish the Students with Disabilities Advisory Council (SDAC), a campus voice for students with disabilities, by students with disabilities. Under Zahneis' leadership, SDAC has become a force of nature on campus. They've held large-scale campus-wide events drawing large crowds. They've developed a one-on-one mentoring program that pairs new students with another member of the disability community on campus. They've developed resources and presentations that have been highlighted on a national scale. Their signature program, Coffee & Conversations, is designed for students with disabilities to share their experiences and engage in conversation with Miami faculty members. The series is just one example of SDAC's dedication to fulfilling the promise in their slogan "Changing Perceptions, One Conversation at a Time."

Having applied the tools of science, education and conservation to become leaders in conversation communities, graduate students in the Global Field Program (GFP) and Advanced Inquiry Program (AIP) from Miami Unviersity's Project Dragonfly finish their master's studies.

Forbes has selected Miami University Student, Sydnie Singleton, a 2nd year Early Childhood Education major, out of thousands around the world to participate in the Forbes Under 30 Scholar Summit this fall. The scholarship program provides free access to the summit and grants students the chance to participate in networking opportunities.

A Farmer School finance and accountancy major has received a prestigious scholarship from the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. Senior Adrian Awuah was named a PCAOB Scholar, the only one at Miami University and one of only 332 across the nation.

Miami University Seniors Awarded Prestigious Astronaut Scholarship

Miami University awarded degrees to students during spring commencement exercises Saturday, May 18, 2019 at Millett Hall.

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced on Thursday that 392 student-athletes from 163 programs have received 2019 NFCA Division I All-Region accolades. Sophomore pitcher Courtney Vierstra was named All-Region Third Team. Vierstra was named All-MAC First Team following the completion of the regular season. She led the Miami pitching staff in conference play in ERA (1.42), wins (8), appearances (17), complete games (8), shutouts (3), saves (2), innings pitched (78.2), strikeouts (111) and opponents' average (.211). When Miami's season ended, Vierstra was fifth in the nation in strikeouts per seven innings (10.5) and is ninth in the nation in strikeouts, her 265 also leading the MAC. She ranks third in program history in strikeouts in a single season (265), fourth in winning percentage (.704) and is also tied for eighth in single-season shutouts (6). Vierstra's 19 wins this year ties for the eighth-most in a single season in program history. As a sophomore, she is seventh in Miami softball history with 426 career strikeouts, eighth with 35 wins and is fifth in career win percentage (.593).

Miami University students who are ranked in the top twenty percent of undergraduate students within each division for second semester 2018-19 have been named to the dean's list recognizing academic excellence.

Miami University students who are ranked in the top three percent of undergraduate students within each division for second semester 2018-19 have been named to the president's list recognizing academic excellence.

The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced on that 392 student-athletes from 163 programs have received 2019 NFCA Division I All-Region accolades. Miami sophomore infielder Ashton Slone was named All-Region Second Team. Slone was named All-MAC Second Team following the completion of the regular season. Slone led the Miami offense this season in batting average (.372), doubles (16), RBI (38), total bases (92), slugging percentage (.622), walks (28) and on-base percentage (.475). In conference play, she batted .359 and led the team in doubles (9), walks (12) and on-base percentage (.461) and was second in hits (23), RBI (14) and total bases (38). Slone's 16 doubles ties for the fourth-most doubles in a single season in program history while her 38 RBI tied for the sixth-most RBI in a single-season and her 28 walks ties for eighth in a single season in program history. She finished the season in the top-10 in the MAC in six offensive categories.

The Mid-American Conference announced its softball All-Conference Teams on Tuesday. Bri Pratt was named MAC All-Freshman Team. Pratt ended the regular season with a 2.98 ERA in 115.0 innings of work. She struck out 95 batters during 28 appearances and earned a 14-6 record. Pratt's win percentage this season ranks fifth in program history. In conference play, Pratt had an ERA of just 1.88 as she went 7-0 in 10 appearances. She struck out 38 batters in 52.0 innings of work in MAC games. Pratt ranks in the top 10 in the MAC in 11 categories for overall play and nine categories in conference play, including ERA both overall and in conference play.

The Mid-American Conference announced its softball All-Conference Teams. Kara Leckinger, Johniann Wahl, Lily Wilmot and Ashton Slone were named All-MAC Second Team. Leckinger hit .383 in conference games this season, the second-highest on the Miami roster. She was also second on the team in hits (23), RBI (14) and on-base percentage (.441) in MAC play. Leckinger hit .308 overall this season, setting career-highs in games played (40), games started (35), at-bats (104), hits (32), doubles (5), RBI (19), walks (3) and hit-by-pitches (10). She has nine multi-hit games this season, two of which she had three hits, and three multi-RBI games this season. Wahl became the program leader in three more career categories this season, climbing to the top of the ranks in RBI (132), doubles (42) and walks (104) after setting the record for home runs last season as a junior. Wahl is also in Miami's career top-10 in hits (176) and at-bats (607) as she's started 206 of 207 games during her Miami career. In conference play this season, she is batting .324, has 22 hits, five doubles, 12 RBI and a slugging percentage of .441. Wahl has 11 multi-hit games this season including two three-hit games. Wilmot leads the Miami offense in conference play in home runs (6) and RBI (21) and is second on the team in total bases (38), slugging percentage (.623). She is second in the MAC in RBI and home runs (6) in conference games. Wilmot is also 10th in the conference in slugging percentage in MAC games. Overall this season, Wilmot is second in home runs (8), second in RBI (31), tied for second on the team in doubles (9) and third in slugging percentage (.562). Her eight home runs this season is tied for the ninth-most in a single season in program history. Slone leads the Miami offense this season in batting average (.382), doubles (16), RBI (36), total bases (86), slugging percentage (.632), walks (26) and on-base percentage (.485). In conference play, she batted .359 and led the team in doubles (9), walks (12) and on-base percentage (.461) and was second in hits (23), RBI (14) and total bases (38). Slone's 16 doubles ties for the fourth-most doubles in a single season in program history while her 36 RBI is 10th in single-season RBI and her 26 walks ties for ninth in a single season in program history. She's in the top-10 in the MAC in six offensive categories.

The Mid-American Conference announced its softball All-Conference Teams. Morgan Lott and Courtney Vierstra were named All-MAC First Team. Lott led the Miami offense in conference play in batting average (.394), at-bats (71), runs (17), hits (28), total bases (45), slugging percentage (.634) and stolen bases (5). She was also second in doubles (6) and home runs (3). Lott's six triples on the season leads the league and is tied for the most in a single season in program history. She is tied for 10th in the nation in triples and is 13thin triples per game. Overall, Lott is batting .331 on the year and leads the team in at-bats (160), runs (30), hits (53), triples (6), total bases (86) and stolen bases (8). Vierstra led the Miami pitching staff in conference play in ERA (1.42), wins (8), appearances (17), complete games (8), shutouts (3), saves (2), innings pitched (78.2), strikeouts (111) and opponents' average (.211). Vierstra is fifth in the nation in strikeouts per seven innings (10.5) and is 11th in the nation in strikeouts, her 233 also leading the MAC. She ranks third in program history both in strikeouts in a single season (233) and winning percentage (.708). Vierstra's 17 wins this year ties for the ninth-most in a single season in program history. As a sophomore, she is eighth in Miami softball history with 394 career strikeouts, eighth with 33 wins and is fifth in career win percentage (.589).