Texas A&M Athletics Celebrates Student-Athletes at 2026 Legacy Awards
Apr 13, 2026 | Center for Student-Athlete Services
COLLEGE STATION – Texas A&M Athletics honored its student-athletes and programs at the 2026 Legacy Awards at the Ford Hall of Champions Monday evening.
The Legacy Awards recognized Texas A&M team and student-athlete accomplishments for various academic, service, leadership and athletic endeavors from March 2025 to March 2026.
Highlighting the night's awards were the honoring of football's Trey Zuhn III and volleyball's Logan Lednicky who were named this year's Distinguished Letterman's Award winners. The award is the highest honor given to a student-athlete at Texas A&M.
The Distinguished Letterman's Award
The Distinguished Letterman's Award is considered one of the highest bestowed upon a student-athlete in their tenure at TAMU. A student-athlete who displays extraordinary talent and honor in the areas of athletics, scholarship, leadership, and service.
Winners: Trey Zuhn III (Football), Logan Lednicky (Volleyball)
Zuhn III embodies what it means to be a Texas A&M student-athlete. As an offensive lineman, he demonstrated remarkable versatility, playing every position along the offensive line when asked and consistently giving his best to help the team succeed. His commitment to excellence and selflessness on the field was matched by his leadership off it, serving as a team captain and guiding the Aggies to their first College Football Playoff appearance in program history.
Trey's influence extended beyond performance. He set the standard for preparation, effort, and integrity, earning the respect of his teammates, many of whom modeled their own games after him. As a true Texas A&M legacy, his passion and dedication to the Aggie program have been evident since an early age.
Off the field, Trey excelled academically, proudly earning his Aggie Ring while preparing for the next chapter in his life. He continues to pursue his dream of playing football at the next level, balancing professional preparation with his responsibilities as a mentor and leader.
Lednicky is a fourth-generation Aggie and delivered volleyball's biggest prize back to College Station. The opposite hitter has led the Maroon & White since her freshman year and won the national title in a storybook ending to her senior campaign. She came in as a player with a heavy arm and turned into one of the rounded volleyball players in the nation and was even selected to represent her country on the senior national team.
She finished her campaign as the program leader for kills in the rally-scoring era with 1,686 and was a two-time Second Team All-American joining only Hall of Famer's Sherri Brinkman and Stacy Sykora to achieve that level of honor in back-to-back years. Her love for the institution was evident and always vocalized when she had the opportunity, she leaves Aggieland with an unforgettable legacy and embodies what it means to be a Texas A&M Aggie.
Athlete of the Year
A student-athlete who is the MVP of the entire athletics department. This award is based strictly on athletic performance.
Winners: Cashius Howell (Football), Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (Volleyball)
Howell anchored one of the nation's most disruptive defenses and earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors, becoming the first Texas A&M player in program history to receive the award.
He led the conference with 11.5 sacks and added 14.0 tackles for loss while consistently pressuring opposing quarterbacks. He finished the season with 31 tackles, six pass breakups and a team-high five quarterback pressures to rank among the top defenders in the SEC. Beyond the numbers, his presence on the field elevated his teammates, as he frequently made crucial stops in high-pressure situations and displayed an uncanny ability to read opposing offenses.
His excellence was recognized nationally, as Howell became a unanimous All-American, earning first-team All-America honors from multiple organizations. He was also a finalist for major national awards, including the Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik and Nagurski awards.
Howell's combination of elite production, leadership, and postseason acclaim reflects a player who not only dominated statistically but also elevated the entire program.
Cos-Okpalla rewrote the record books and guided her team to an NCAA title in her final season for the Aggies. The senior blocker cemented herself as the best blocker in Texas A&M history and in NCAA history, as she recorded a single-season program best 199 blocks and captured the career program record for blocks in her last match for the Maroon & White finishing with 565.
Her senior season separated her nationally as the country's premier middle, as she finished the year with 244 kills, 199 blocks, 42 aces which accounted for 396.5 points. Her performances earned her First Team All-America status making her only the fourth Aggie to receive the honor in program history and the first since 2005. She also was named First Team All-SEC, NCAA All-Tournament Team, was on the AVCA Player of the Year Watchlist, SEC All-Tournament Team. Cos-Okpalla also garnered eight SEC Weekly Awards this past season, including five Defensive Player of the Week honors which is the most in a single season in SEC history.
Cos-Okpalla's stellar season also included leading the nation with 1.69 blocks per set was a single season high and ranked first in the country among power-four schools, setting the single season hitting percentage program record at .422 percent, recording the most aces in a season for an Aggie since 2019 and became the first player ever to pace the SEC in blocks per set across all matches for the three-straight years.
Bill Erwin Scholar-Athlete Award
This award recognizes a student who balances athletics and scholarship with a minimum 3.25 GPA.
Winners: Jacob Graham (Football), Kaitlyn Owens (Swimming & Diving)
Graham graduated from Texas A&M in May 2024 with a degree in Finance and a certificate in Petroleum Ventures, demonstrating his commitment to a rigorous academic path while competing as a Division I student-athlete. He was named to the Athletics Director's Honor Roll four times during his undergraduate career, highlighting his consistent dedication to academic success.
On the field, Graham has been the program's starting long snapper, helping the Aggies execute successful special teams operations pertaining to field goals and punts throughout his career. His consistency and focus in this specialized role has provided the team with crucial contributions in every game, exemplifying his professionalism and attention to detail.
Following graduation, Graham continued his academic journey by enrolling in the Master of Legal Studies program, where he is pursuing graduate certificates in Energy Law (Oil & Gas Law and Policy), Energy Law (Environmental and Energy Law and Policy), and Wealth Management. He has excelled in the program, currently maintaining a 4.0 GPA while continuing to meet the demands of being a football student-athlete.
Graham's commitment to his education, combined with his ability to balance the responsibilities of athletics and graduate-level coursework, reflects the discipline, work ethic and intellectual curiosity that define the Aggie student-athlete experience.
Owens has achieved a cumulative 4.0 GPA as she nears completion of her degree in Animal Science this May and intends on pursuing a doctorate in veterinary medicine. The two-time team captain has been named a CSCAA Scholar All-American and to the All-District Team by the College Sports Communicators. She is a five-time member of Texas A&M's Athletics Director Honor Roll, as well as earning recognition on the SEC Academic Honor Roll three times and the SEC First-Year Honor Roll.
Lohman Inspiration Award
This award recognizes a student-athlete who has demonstrated integrity and tenacity in overcoming incredible challenges in pursuit of their education. This person makes a commitment to working with and learning from others and is a good role model for others who struggle.
Winners: Le'Veon Moss (Football), Kyndal Stowers (Volleyball)
During the 2024 season, Moss suffered a significant injury that prematurely ended his season and required months of rehabilitation. He attacked the recovery process with determination, working closely with Texas A&M's Sports Medicine and Athletic Training staff to return to the practice field ahead of the 2025 season.
At the same time, Moss remained fully committed to his academic responsibilities. Through hard work in the classroom, he earned his Aggie Ring, a milestone that reflects both academic achievement and dedication to the Texas A&M community.
Despite suffering another injury during the 2025 season, Moss continued to demonstrate resilience and leadership within the program. His perseverance and talent were recognized nationally when he earned an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine, an opportunity reserved for the top prospects in college football.
Off the field, Moss serves as a role model as the father of two young boys, balancing the responsibilities of fatherhood with the demands of being a Division I student-athlete. His dedication to his family, education and teammates reflects the character and integrity that define the Aggie spirit.
Stowers' story became the talk of the nation at the NCAA Tournament, from an athlete who had her career taken away from her to a player who helped push a team to a national title. The outside hitter was medically retired by Baylor and was forced to sit out of the game she loved for over a year, but instead of giving in she took the challenge on and continued to fight.
After being away from the sport and school as a whole, she joined the Aggies and turned into one of the final pieces of the puzzle. She grew from strength-to-strength throughout the year and hit her full stride when the Maroon & White needed her in the NCAA Tournament. The junior helped spur on the team through three No. 1 seeds to win the programs first national title and earned Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
Center for Student-Athlete Services Award
This award recognizes student-athletes who have demonstrated consistent dedication to their academics by utilizing resources, improving their academic performance and always giving their best effort. They possess discipline needed to be successful in the classroom while upholding the Aggie Core Values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity and Selfless Service, and have served as role models for others who utilize the Center for Student-Athlete Services.
Winners: Bravion Rogers (Football), Djurdja Stanojevic (Volleyball)
Rogers has shown tremendous academic growth by fully embracing academic support resources, developing strong study habits and earning a spot on the AD Honor Roll. His accountability, honesty and positive leadership extends beyond the classroom, as he models success for peers and gives back to his community.
Stanojevic exemplifies the Aggie Core Values through her respect, reliability, and relentless pursuit of academic excellence, consistently arriving prepared, positive and engaged despite the added challenges of being an international student-athlete. Her integrity, curiosity and strong work ethic—especially in tackling rigorous coursework in a non-native language—make her a natural leader and an outstanding representative of Texas A&M.
Selfless Service Award
This award is given to the individual who has shown the greatest commitment to selfless service through a combination of the number of hours, number of projects completed and willingness to encourage others to serve.
Winner: Halina Panczyszyn (Swimming & Diving)
Completed the Brand U Professional Development Program, President of WE3, Swimming & Diving SAAC Rep, Traditions Night Director Staff, Peer Mentor for FYEX 101 class and consistent participation in service projects.
Team GPA Award
The team GPA award is given to the team with the highest grade-point average during the Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 semesters.
Winner: Soccer – 3.485 Team GPA for the 2025 Spring and 2025 Fall semesters.
Student-Athlete Engagement Award
This award is presented to a student-athlete who has been heavily involved in all elements of the student-athlete engagement program, including leadership, career development and selfless service. They have also served as advocates and mentors for other students who are looking to get involved in the athletics department.
Winner: Halina Panczyszyn (Swimming & Diving)
Participated in SAAC Trick or Treat at Aggie Volleyball, Aggies CAN, TAMU Physics Festival, REACH For the Culture Market, Sodalis Retirement Home and Paw Print Festival.
Aggie Comeback Award
The Aggie Comeback Award recognizes a student-athlete who has overcome athletic related injury and/or illness during their career at TAMU and has utilized resources provided through the TAMU Athletic Training Staff and Sports Medicine program to comeback to continue performing in their sport.
Winners: Tyreek Chappell (Football), Lauren Ware (Women's Basketball)
In September 2024, Chappell suffered a torn ACL that forced him to miss the remainder of the 2024 season, a difficult setback for a veteran leader in the Aggies' secondary. The injury required extensive rehabilitation and a long-term recovery process that challenged both his physical and mental endurance.
Throughout his rehabilitation, Chappell worked closely with Texas A&M's Athletic Training and Sports Medicine staff, fully embracing the recovery plan and utilizing every available resource to regain strength, mobility and confidence. His dedication to the process allowed him to steadily progress through each stage of recovery while maintaining a leadership presence within the program.
Despite being limited during the 2025 spring season as he continued his recovery, Chappell returned to the field in the fall and once again became a key contributor in the Aggies' secondary. During the 2025 season, he started in all 13 games and recorded 34 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and four pass breakups, providing veteran stability and experience from the nickel position for the Aggies' defense.
Chappell's journey back to the field is a testament to his character and work ethic, as well as the support and expertise provided by the Texas A&M Athletic Training and Sports Medicine staff.
Ware has truly dealt with injury every single day for the past two years. She has chronic knee pain that makes her unable to practice with her team in order for her to be available for games. Her battle is constant and never ending but she embraced the journey alongside the Texas A&M Athletic Training and Medicine Staff.
But, she still was able to lead this team and play in the most physical league in the country. After a grueling two game stretch to begin conference play this season, Ware had to sit out two games in hopes of returning to play. After those two games, she returned to the court and did not miss another outing. In that time, Texas A&M won six of their final seven regular season games, including three ranked victories.
Against Alabama with the clock winding down, Ware stepped out on the perimeter with a three-point lead and recorded the game-sealing block to secure victory. The team never quit, and it was because of her example.
Newcomer of the Year Award
This award recognizes a freshman or transfer student-athlete in their first year at Texas A&M who has made significant athletic contributions.
Winners: Aleksandr "Sasha" Solovev (Track & Field), Kyndal Stowers (Volleyball)
Solovev's impact in his first semester at Texas A&M was incredible. Sasha claimed both the SEC and NCAA outdoor titles in the pole vault while also being named the SEC Outdoor Newcomer Field Athlete of the Year and the USTFCCCA South Central Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year.
He also broke both the Texas A&M indoor and outdoor school records in the pole vault. His outdoor best of 5.78m/18-11.5 was also the number-one outdoor jump by a collegiate athlete in 2025, and he helped lead the program to its fifth outdoor title.
Stowers joined the Aggies in the Spring of 2025 and became the catalyst the team needed to take the next step. The outside hitter made an instant impact for the team, especially in the big moments. She was the driving force behind the Maroon & White's five-set victory over No. 2 Texas to claim the Lone Star Trophy and highest ranked home win in program history. At the NCAA Tournament she became almost unstoppable, recording double-digit kills in the final five tournament matches, including a postseason high of 25 when the Aggies toppled No. 1 overall seed Nebraska.
Stowers' performances in the tournament earned his Most Outstanding Player honors. She also received Second Team All-America honors, was named to the NCAA Tournament Team, NCAA Regional Team and First Team All-SEC. The junior also caught the attention of the United States' national team, as she was added to the Collegiate National Team Training Roster.
12th Man of the Year
The 12th Man of the Year Award is given to an outstanding student-athlete who epitomizes the Spirit of the 12th Man and Texas A&M's Core Values. This student-athlete is the heart of your team, the ultimate teammate, and always standing at the ready for when their name is called.
Winners: Munzy Kabbara (Swimming & Diving), Chaney Spencer (Women's Basketball)
Fifth-year senior Kabbara returned for his final season and took his leadership skills to the next level as a team captain. A fiery competitor, his coaches say "He'll run through a wall for the team. He literally bleeds maroon."
In many cases, swimmers' lifetime best times come in the Championship meets, but he produced multiple personal records in regular season dual meets this year because he's so competitive. He was determined to raise his teammates' level of "fire" in dual meets by tapping into a different level of competitiveness that led to his times.
Off the pool deck, the 2020 Olympian is involved with Aggie AchieveMates, which is a student-led organization that provides college-age people with special needs with the opportunity to get involved in their community and build relationships with their peers.
Spencer is a multi-generational Aggie who has only dreamed of being at Texas A&M her whole life. In an age of players who might have different motivations, hers is to be an Aggie and to be a great teammate.
Her energy off the bench is infectious. She never backs down from anyone. She has had to guard All-Americans and future Women's Basketball Hall of Famers as she has backed up Ny'Ceara Pryor.
When you think of the legacy of E. King Gill, Spencer fits the mold. Wherever and whenever is her motto. In the Arkansas game, she hit a buzzer-beater in the third quarter. Her teammates mobbed her and the crowd went wild. Joni Taylor after the game was asked about what that meant of her team to celebrate something like that. "It says less about the team than what it says about Chaney," Taylor said.
She is an Aggie and lives out the Spirit of the 12th Man.
Team of the Year
Winner: Volleyball
The 2025 volleyball team won its first ever National Championship after defeating three No. 1 seeds en route to the title. The Aggies handed the No. 1 overall seed Nebraska its first loss of the season and first loss at home since 2022 in the Elite Eight round to reach the Final Four. The team ended the year with a 29-4 record, the 29 wins are the most in a single season since 1984.
Selfless Service Team Award
The team award is given to the team who completed the most average hours per student-athlete on the roster.
Winner: Equestrian – 365 Hours
Projects: Aggies CAN, BCS Together Fall Festival, The Big Event, Boys and Girls Club, REVved Up to Read, Trick or Treat at Aggie Volleyball
All-Academic Team
This award recognizes the student-athletes with the highest cumulative GPA on each of their respective teams.
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The Legacy Awards recognized Texas A&M team and student-athlete accomplishments for various academic, service, leadership and athletic endeavors from March 2025 to March 2026.
Highlighting the night's awards were the honoring of football's Trey Zuhn III and volleyball's Logan Lednicky who were named this year's Distinguished Letterman's Award winners. The award is the highest honor given to a student-athlete at Texas A&M.
The Distinguished Letterman's Award
The Distinguished Letterman's Award is considered one of the highest bestowed upon a student-athlete in their tenure at TAMU. A student-athlete who displays extraordinary talent and honor in the areas of athletics, scholarship, leadership, and service.
Winners: Trey Zuhn III (Football), Logan Lednicky (Volleyball)
Zuhn III embodies what it means to be a Texas A&M student-athlete. As an offensive lineman, he demonstrated remarkable versatility, playing every position along the offensive line when asked and consistently giving his best to help the team succeed. His commitment to excellence and selflessness on the field was matched by his leadership off it, serving as a team captain and guiding the Aggies to their first College Football Playoff appearance in program history.
Trey's influence extended beyond performance. He set the standard for preparation, effort, and integrity, earning the respect of his teammates, many of whom modeled their own games after him. As a true Texas A&M legacy, his passion and dedication to the Aggie program have been evident since an early age.
Off the field, Trey excelled academically, proudly earning his Aggie Ring while preparing for the next chapter in his life. He continues to pursue his dream of playing football at the next level, balancing professional preparation with his responsibilities as a mentor and leader.
Lednicky is a fourth-generation Aggie and delivered volleyball's biggest prize back to College Station. The opposite hitter has led the Maroon & White since her freshman year and won the national title in a storybook ending to her senior campaign. She came in as a player with a heavy arm and turned into one of the rounded volleyball players in the nation and was even selected to represent her country on the senior national team.
She finished her campaign as the program leader for kills in the rally-scoring era with 1,686 and was a two-time Second Team All-American joining only Hall of Famer's Sherri Brinkman and Stacy Sykora to achieve that level of honor in back-to-back years. Her love for the institution was evident and always vocalized when she had the opportunity, she leaves Aggieland with an unforgettable legacy and embodies what it means to be a Texas A&M Aggie.
Athlete of the Year
A student-athlete who is the MVP of the entire athletics department. This award is based strictly on athletic performance.
Winners: Cashius Howell (Football), Ifenna Cos-Okpalla (Volleyball)
Howell anchored one of the nation's most disruptive defenses and earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors, becoming the first Texas A&M player in program history to receive the award.
He led the conference with 11.5 sacks and added 14.0 tackles for loss while consistently pressuring opposing quarterbacks. He finished the season with 31 tackles, six pass breakups and a team-high five quarterback pressures to rank among the top defenders in the SEC. Beyond the numbers, his presence on the field elevated his teammates, as he frequently made crucial stops in high-pressure situations and displayed an uncanny ability to read opposing offenses.
His excellence was recognized nationally, as Howell became a unanimous All-American, earning first-team All-America honors from multiple organizations. He was also a finalist for major national awards, including the Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik and Nagurski awards.
Howell's combination of elite production, leadership, and postseason acclaim reflects a player who not only dominated statistically but also elevated the entire program.
Cos-Okpalla rewrote the record books and guided her team to an NCAA title in her final season for the Aggies. The senior blocker cemented herself as the best blocker in Texas A&M history and in NCAA history, as she recorded a single-season program best 199 blocks and captured the career program record for blocks in her last match for the Maroon & White finishing with 565.
Her senior season separated her nationally as the country's premier middle, as she finished the year with 244 kills, 199 blocks, 42 aces which accounted for 396.5 points. Her performances earned her First Team All-America status making her only the fourth Aggie to receive the honor in program history and the first since 2005. She also was named First Team All-SEC, NCAA All-Tournament Team, was on the AVCA Player of the Year Watchlist, SEC All-Tournament Team. Cos-Okpalla also garnered eight SEC Weekly Awards this past season, including five Defensive Player of the Week honors which is the most in a single season in SEC history.
Cos-Okpalla's stellar season also included leading the nation with 1.69 blocks per set was a single season high and ranked first in the country among power-four schools, setting the single season hitting percentage program record at .422 percent, recording the most aces in a season for an Aggie since 2019 and became the first player ever to pace the SEC in blocks per set across all matches for the three-straight years.
Bill Erwin Scholar-Athlete Award
This award recognizes a student who balances athletics and scholarship with a minimum 3.25 GPA.
Winners: Jacob Graham (Football), Kaitlyn Owens (Swimming & Diving)
Graham graduated from Texas A&M in May 2024 with a degree in Finance and a certificate in Petroleum Ventures, demonstrating his commitment to a rigorous academic path while competing as a Division I student-athlete. He was named to the Athletics Director's Honor Roll four times during his undergraduate career, highlighting his consistent dedication to academic success.
On the field, Graham has been the program's starting long snapper, helping the Aggies execute successful special teams operations pertaining to field goals and punts throughout his career. His consistency and focus in this specialized role has provided the team with crucial contributions in every game, exemplifying his professionalism and attention to detail.
Following graduation, Graham continued his academic journey by enrolling in the Master of Legal Studies program, where he is pursuing graduate certificates in Energy Law (Oil & Gas Law and Policy), Energy Law (Environmental and Energy Law and Policy), and Wealth Management. He has excelled in the program, currently maintaining a 4.0 GPA while continuing to meet the demands of being a football student-athlete.
Graham's commitment to his education, combined with his ability to balance the responsibilities of athletics and graduate-level coursework, reflects the discipline, work ethic and intellectual curiosity that define the Aggie student-athlete experience.
Owens has achieved a cumulative 4.0 GPA as she nears completion of her degree in Animal Science this May and intends on pursuing a doctorate in veterinary medicine. The two-time team captain has been named a CSCAA Scholar All-American and to the All-District Team by the College Sports Communicators. She is a five-time member of Texas A&M's Athletics Director Honor Roll, as well as earning recognition on the SEC Academic Honor Roll three times and the SEC First-Year Honor Roll.
Lohman Inspiration Award
This award recognizes a student-athlete who has demonstrated integrity and tenacity in overcoming incredible challenges in pursuit of their education. This person makes a commitment to working with and learning from others and is a good role model for others who struggle.
Winners: Le'Veon Moss (Football), Kyndal Stowers (Volleyball)
During the 2024 season, Moss suffered a significant injury that prematurely ended his season and required months of rehabilitation. He attacked the recovery process with determination, working closely with Texas A&M's Sports Medicine and Athletic Training staff to return to the practice field ahead of the 2025 season.
At the same time, Moss remained fully committed to his academic responsibilities. Through hard work in the classroom, he earned his Aggie Ring, a milestone that reflects both academic achievement and dedication to the Texas A&M community.
Despite suffering another injury during the 2025 season, Moss continued to demonstrate resilience and leadership within the program. His perseverance and talent were recognized nationally when he earned an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine, an opportunity reserved for the top prospects in college football.
Off the field, Moss serves as a role model as the father of two young boys, balancing the responsibilities of fatherhood with the demands of being a Division I student-athlete. His dedication to his family, education and teammates reflects the character and integrity that define the Aggie spirit.
Stowers' story became the talk of the nation at the NCAA Tournament, from an athlete who had her career taken away from her to a player who helped push a team to a national title. The outside hitter was medically retired by Baylor and was forced to sit out of the game she loved for over a year, but instead of giving in she took the challenge on and continued to fight.
After being away from the sport and school as a whole, she joined the Aggies and turned into one of the final pieces of the puzzle. She grew from strength-to-strength throughout the year and hit her full stride when the Maroon & White needed her in the NCAA Tournament. The junior helped spur on the team through three No. 1 seeds to win the programs first national title and earned Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.
Center for Student-Athlete Services Award
This award recognizes student-athletes who have demonstrated consistent dedication to their academics by utilizing resources, improving their academic performance and always giving their best effort. They possess discipline needed to be successful in the classroom while upholding the Aggie Core Values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity and Selfless Service, and have served as role models for others who utilize the Center for Student-Athlete Services.
Winners: Bravion Rogers (Football), Djurdja Stanojevic (Volleyball)
Rogers has shown tremendous academic growth by fully embracing academic support resources, developing strong study habits and earning a spot on the AD Honor Roll. His accountability, honesty and positive leadership extends beyond the classroom, as he models success for peers and gives back to his community.
Stanojevic exemplifies the Aggie Core Values through her respect, reliability, and relentless pursuit of academic excellence, consistently arriving prepared, positive and engaged despite the added challenges of being an international student-athlete. Her integrity, curiosity and strong work ethic—especially in tackling rigorous coursework in a non-native language—make her a natural leader and an outstanding representative of Texas A&M.
Selfless Service Award
This award is given to the individual who has shown the greatest commitment to selfless service through a combination of the number of hours, number of projects completed and willingness to encourage others to serve.
Winner: Halina Panczyszyn (Swimming & Diving)
Completed the Brand U Professional Development Program, President of WE3, Swimming & Diving SAAC Rep, Traditions Night Director Staff, Peer Mentor for FYEX 101 class and consistent participation in service projects.
Team GPA Award
The team GPA award is given to the team with the highest grade-point average during the Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 semesters.
Winner: Soccer – 3.485 Team GPA for the 2025 Spring and 2025 Fall semesters.
Student-Athlete Engagement Award
This award is presented to a student-athlete who has been heavily involved in all elements of the student-athlete engagement program, including leadership, career development and selfless service. They have also served as advocates and mentors for other students who are looking to get involved in the athletics department.
Winner: Halina Panczyszyn (Swimming & Diving)
Participated in SAAC Trick or Treat at Aggie Volleyball, Aggies CAN, TAMU Physics Festival, REACH For the Culture Market, Sodalis Retirement Home and Paw Print Festival.
Aggie Comeback Award
The Aggie Comeback Award recognizes a student-athlete who has overcome athletic related injury and/or illness during their career at TAMU and has utilized resources provided through the TAMU Athletic Training Staff and Sports Medicine program to comeback to continue performing in their sport.
Winners: Tyreek Chappell (Football), Lauren Ware (Women's Basketball)
In September 2024, Chappell suffered a torn ACL that forced him to miss the remainder of the 2024 season, a difficult setback for a veteran leader in the Aggies' secondary. The injury required extensive rehabilitation and a long-term recovery process that challenged both his physical and mental endurance.
Throughout his rehabilitation, Chappell worked closely with Texas A&M's Athletic Training and Sports Medicine staff, fully embracing the recovery plan and utilizing every available resource to regain strength, mobility and confidence. His dedication to the process allowed him to steadily progress through each stage of recovery while maintaining a leadership presence within the program.
Despite being limited during the 2025 spring season as he continued his recovery, Chappell returned to the field in the fall and once again became a key contributor in the Aggies' secondary. During the 2025 season, he started in all 13 games and recorded 34 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and four pass breakups, providing veteran stability and experience from the nickel position for the Aggies' defense.
Chappell's journey back to the field is a testament to his character and work ethic, as well as the support and expertise provided by the Texas A&M Athletic Training and Sports Medicine staff.
Ware has truly dealt with injury every single day for the past two years. She has chronic knee pain that makes her unable to practice with her team in order for her to be available for games. Her battle is constant and never ending but she embraced the journey alongside the Texas A&M Athletic Training and Medicine Staff.
But, she still was able to lead this team and play in the most physical league in the country. After a grueling two game stretch to begin conference play this season, Ware had to sit out two games in hopes of returning to play. After those two games, she returned to the court and did not miss another outing. In that time, Texas A&M won six of their final seven regular season games, including three ranked victories.
Against Alabama with the clock winding down, Ware stepped out on the perimeter with a three-point lead and recorded the game-sealing block to secure victory. The team never quit, and it was because of her example.
Newcomer of the Year Award
This award recognizes a freshman or transfer student-athlete in their first year at Texas A&M who has made significant athletic contributions.
Winners: Aleksandr "Sasha" Solovev (Track & Field), Kyndal Stowers (Volleyball)
Solovev's impact in his first semester at Texas A&M was incredible. Sasha claimed both the SEC and NCAA outdoor titles in the pole vault while also being named the SEC Outdoor Newcomer Field Athlete of the Year and the USTFCCCA South Central Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year.
He also broke both the Texas A&M indoor and outdoor school records in the pole vault. His outdoor best of 5.78m/18-11.5 was also the number-one outdoor jump by a collegiate athlete in 2025, and he helped lead the program to its fifth outdoor title.
Stowers joined the Aggies in the Spring of 2025 and became the catalyst the team needed to take the next step. The outside hitter made an instant impact for the team, especially in the big moments. She was the driving force behind the Maroon & White's five-set victory over No. 2 Texas to claim the Lone Star Trophy and highest ranked home win in program history. At the NCAA Tournament she became almost unstoppable, recording double-digit kills in the final five tournament matches, including a postseason high of 25 when the Aggies toppled No. 1 overall seed Nebraska.
Stowers' performances in the tournament earned his Most Outstanding Player honors. She also received Second Team All-America honors, was named to the NCAA Tournament Team, NCAA Regional Team and First Team All-SEC. The junior also caught the attention of the United States' national team, as she was added to the Collegiate National Team Training Roster.
12th Man of the Year
The 12th Man of the Year Award is given to an outstanding student-athlete who epitomizes the Spirit of the 12th Man and Texas A&M's Core Values. This student-athlete is the heart of your team, the ultimate teammate, and always standing at the ready for when their name is called.
Winners: Munzy Kabbara (Swimming & Diving), Chaney Spencer (Women's Basketball)
Fifth-year senior Kabbara returned for his final season and took his leadership skills to the next level as a team captain. A fiery competitor, his coaches say "He'll run through a wall for the team. He literally bleeds maroon."
In many cases, swimmers' lifetime best times come in the Championship meets, but he produced multiple personal records in regular season dual meets this year because he's so competitive. He was determined to raise his teammates' level of "fire" in dual meets by tapping into a different level of competitiveness that led to his times.
Off the pool deck, the 2020 Olympian is involved with Aggie AchieveMates, which is a student-led organization that provides college-age people with special needs with the opportunity to get involved in their community and build relationships with their peers.
Spencer is a multi-generational Aggie who has only dreamed of being at Texas A&M her whole life. In an age of players who might have different motivations, hers is to be an Aggie and to be a great teammate.
Her energy off the bench is infectious. She never backs down from anyone. She has had to guard All-Americans and future Women's Basketball Hall of Famers as she has backed up Ny'Ceara Pryor.
When you think of the legacy of E. King Gill, Spencer fits the mold. Wherever and whenever is her motto. In the Arkansas game, she hit a buzzer-beater in the third quarter. Her teammates mobbed her and the crowd went wild. Joni Taylor after the game was asked about what that meant of her team to celebrate something like that. "It says less about the team than what it says about Chaney," Taylor said.
She is an Aggie and lives out the Spirit of the 12th Man.
Team of the Year
Winner: Volleyball
The 2025 volleyball team won its first ever National Championship after defeating three No. 1 seeds en route to the title. The Aggies handed the No. 1 overall seed Nebraska its first loss of the season and first loss at home since 2022 in the Elite Eight round to reach the Final Four. The team ended the year with a 29-4 record, the 29 wins are the most in a single season since 1984.
Selfless Service Team Award
The team award is given to the team who completed the most average hours per student-athlete on the roster.
Winner: Equestrian – 365 Hours
Projects: Aggies CAN, BCS Together Fall Festival, The Big Event, Boys and Girls Club, REVved Up to Read, Trick or Treat at Aggie Volleyball
All-Academic Team
This award recognizes the student-athletes with the highest cumulative GPA on each of their respective teams.
- Kynadie Adams – Women's Golf
- Raushan Agee – Men's Basketball
- Kendall Austin – Equestrian
- Logan Brown – Swimming & Diving
- Ryan Burtin – Football
- Kennedy Clark – Soccer
- Ella Goodwin – Soccer
- Gavin Grahovac – Baseball
- Sam Hankins – Men's Track & Field
- Maddie Jones – Women's Track & Field
- Scout Lovell – Softball
- Kaitlyn Owens – Swimming & Diving
- Lexington Reed – Women's Tennis
- Ethan Silva – Men's Tennis
- Kyndal Stowers – Volleyball
- Jack Usner – Men's Golf
- Lauren Ware – Women's Basketball
Follow the Aggies
For complete coverage of Texas A&M Athletics, be sure to follow the Aggies on social media at @12thMan (X/Twitter), @12thman (Instagram & Threads) and @AggieAthletics (Facebook) or visit the official home of Texas A&M Athletics at 12thMan.com.
Student-Athletes Summer Social
Monday, July 31
Traditions Night 2021
Monday, August 30
