JACKSON - On a prominent Monday evening in the Robert and Dee Leggett Center on the campus of Millsaps College, 39 senior student-athletes were recognized by the athletic department and coaches for their respective sport for successfully mixing academics and athletics in their stint at Millsaps.

After opening remarks and a welcoming from athletic director Tim Wise and Student Body Association president Drew McDowell, coaches from 13 of the 14 intercollegiate sports with graduating seniors including sports medicine, presented their players with varsity letter award plaques that had the Millsaps “M” stitched in them with bars representing each year the student-athlete participated.

Beyond the individual awards given out by coaches, four student-athletes were recognized for the Carla Webb award, the Paul Benton award and the Archie Lamb award – nominated by coaches and selected by the athletic department and by the executive committee of the Student Body Association.

The Archie Lamb award is presented annually to a male and female student-athlete who best exemplifies sportsmanship, character and attitude while approaching their teammates, coaches and other respective officials in a positive manner. This year's recipients were tri-sport athlete Leslie Frese of Birmingham, Ala., and men's golfer Daniel Rice of Kimberly, Ala.

The Paul Benton award is presented annually to the outstanding senior male varsity athlete amongst the seven men's sports while the Carla Webb award is presented annually to the outstanding senior female varsity athlete amongst the seven women's sports.

After becoming the College's all-time hits leader as of Friday, April 20, senior outfielder Jason Hadley of Perdido, Ala., earned the 2007 Paul Benton award while senior softball standout and soon to be four-time all-SCAC selection Josie Manley of Madison had her name engraved on the Carla Webb award plaque.

Amongst the other student-athletes recognized were Ivy Settlemires, Emily Ainsworth, Amanda Paschall, Mary Raines, Ben Buckner, Oghale Ighoavodha, Joseph Ingram, Lee Pharr, Kim Fox, Colleen Kelly, Curt Griffin, Jacqueline Heber, Allison Sturgis, Deborah Sturgis, Chad Tobler, Allen Odum, Jeep Darnell, Joey Doxey, Michael Gleason, Josh Hanna, Chris Jackson, Kirk Jackson, Conell Phillips Jr., Ben Robichaux, Krystle Holliday, Renee' Green, Brent Buffa, Justin Carter, Nick Crawford, Taylor Jones, Luke Morrow, John Pacillo, Joe Blades, Nicky Prather and Russell Turley.