Jacksonville State University

At the conclusion of each academic year, the Eagle Owl Award, which was established in 1994, is given to a male and a female senior athlete who possess several outstanding qualities. To be nominated, the student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve during his or her senior season and carry a 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher.

The student-athlete must excel in his or her sport, be a positive role model for others and exemplify the well-rounded student-athlete. Nominees are voted on by a selection committee, which is comprised of administration throughout the Jacksonville State campus. Each of this year’s recipients exemplify the spirit of the award.


Allie Barker, Softball
Barker was a First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference and OVC All-Tournament selection for the Gamecock softball team in 2008. The Gadsden, Ala., native currently ranks fourth in the JSU career records book with 31 home runs and 112 career RBI and also ranks seventh in runs scored with 104 runs, eighth in hits with 159 and 10th in career doubles with 28. She has a .983 career fielding percentage to date, committing 21 errors in 1,225 chances.

Barker ranks third on the JSU single season home runs list with 15 home runs in 2008 and her 22 walks ranks 16th on the schools single season list. So far in 2009, she is in the top two on the Gamecocks roster in batting average (.407), home runs (8), hits (50), RBI (35), runs (33), doubles (13), slugging percentage (.724), on-base percentage (.473), walks (18), fielding percentage (.982 - four errors in 224 chances), total bases (89) and at bats (123). She is a marketing major at JSU, carrying a 3.0 overall GPA.

Barker is the fifth softball player and the second in the last three years to win the award.

Gavin Hallford, Football
Hallford holds eight JSU records and two OVC records and was a First-Team All-OVC and Third-Team AP All-American selection during his football career. The Phenix City, Ala., is the JSU’s all-time leading scorer with 311 points and ranks first all-time in points by a kicker and second all-time in the Ohio Valley Conference. He set the OVC and JSU record with 22 field goals in 2007 and was selected OVC Player of the Week five times.

Hallford kicked a school record four field goals in two games and scored a record 16 points in one game. He made 50-of-74 career field goals, setting JSU records in field goals made and attempted. Hallford made a school record 161 extra points and attempted a school 171 extra points. He is a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is a Strength and Conditioning All-American. Hall ford is majoring in Exercise Science and Wellness with 2.97 GPA.

Hallford is the fifth football player to win the award and the second in the last three years.

Year	Female Winner	Sport	Male Winner	Sport
2008-09	Allie Barker	Softball	Gavin Hallford	Football
2007-08	Abbey Breit	Volleyball	Clay Whittemore	Baseball
2006-07	Daniela Pappano	Softball	Clay Green	Football
2005-06	Kisha West	Volleyball	James Hall	Rifle
2004-05	Kari Baldwin	Rifle	Matias Anselmo	Golf
2003-04	Jennifer Brenneman	Volleyball	C.R. Palmer	Baseball
2002-03	Sally Pearson	Tennis	Jose Campra	Golf
2001-02	Adriana Finelli	Soccer	Jeremy Sullivan	Football
2000-01	Lauren Buck	Softball	Brad Smith	Baseball
1999-00	Lisa Baswell	Basketball	Joey Hamilton	Football
1998-99	Lucinda Roddy	Rifle
1997-98	Melissa Harden	Basketball
1996-97	Kathy Schuneman	Rifle
1995-96	Tracey Wilder	Tennis
1994-95	Ann Shelton	Softball
1993-94	Jana Simmons	BKB, VB, SB