University of Houston Athletics
Photo by: Courtesy University of Houston
Celebrating #CougarChoice22 Awards in Style
5/2/2022 4:27:00 PM | General
Houston student-athletes, staff commemorate historic year
HOUSTON – University of Houston student-athletes, coaches, and staff, joined together to celebrate the department's historic year while honoring a host of standouts during the annual Cougar Choice Awards, held Monday night from the Fertitta Center.
Cougar Choice Awards winners include:
Champion for Life – Awarded to an exceptionally well-rounded student-athlete based on the following criteria: academics, athletics, civic/community service and career development
WINNER – Katie Power has served as SAAC President for the past two years, as well as vice president for one year. She has served on the American Athletic Conference SAAC Executive Board for the past two years.
Power earned her Bachelor of Science in biology and will be attending medical school in the fall. Power helped the Cougars win their sixth consecutive American Athletic Conference title in February, marking her fifth title with Houston.
DJ Hayden Award – Student-athlete who has overcome significant obstacles in lift, has a positive outlook and pursues excellence despite obstacles
WINNER – Becca Schulte is one of the best stories in sports. The seventh-year senior has been a collegiate student-athlete since 2015, has attended three different schools, has played on the biggest stages, and has overcome injury and a whole lot more. Schulte is working on her second master's degree and competes at the Division I level in softball, all while raising a one-year-old. The Cougars' second baseman leads the team on the field in average, slugging, home runs, doubles, RBIs and walks.
Female Cougar of the Year – Awarded to Houston's top female student-athlete
WINNER – Chase Farris earned her third consecutive American Athletic Conference championship, as well as qualifying to her second consecutive NCAA Championships appearance.
At The American Championships, Farris claimed first place in the 3-meter diving event and placed third in both the 1-meter and platform diving events.
Male Cougar of the Year – Awarded to Houston's top male student-athlete
WINNER – With the conclusion of a career featuring nothing but winning, Men's Basketball graduate forward Fabian White Jr. was named the Male Cougar of the Year.
In 2021-22, White averaged 12.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game with a team-high 1.5 blocked shots per game to lead the Cougars to the NCAA Elite Eight for the second straight season.
Starting all 38 games to set a school single-season record, White was honored The American Championship Most Outstanding Player and was an All-American Athletic Conference First-Team selection by the league's head coaches.
Female Academic Cougar of the Year – A leader in the classroom
WINNER – Majoring in industrial engineering, Elizabeth Richardson was named the 2022 Female Academic Cougar of the Year at the Cougar Choice Awards. Richardson earned her third consecutive American Athletic Conference title with the Cougars in February.
Male Academic Cougar of the Year – A leader in the classroom
WINNER – Houston Football's Kyle Ramsey has excelled academically at the University of Houston, doing so while working towards his degree in electrical engineering. Ramsey, who has a 3.882 GPA, spent time working on a special project in the University of Houston swarm robotics lab, where he helped construct a robot that tracked and filmed runners in long distance races, such as a 5k or marathon. He is a member of member of Omicron Delta Kappa honor society and was invited to join Tau Beta Pi (engineering honor society) for being in the top 1/8th of his class.
Female Rookie of the Year – Freshman student-athlete who made significant contributions
WINNER – Henrietta Fangli was named Female Rookie of the Year after an impressive first season with the Cougars. At the American Athletic Conference Championships, Fangli earned an individual title in the 100-yard breaststroke, as well as a first-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay.
Male Rookie of the Year – Freshman student-athlete who made significant contributions
WINNER – A true freshman during the 2020-21 track and field season, Shaun Maswanganyi is a four-time track and field All-American. The sprinter was the NCAA national runner-up in the 100-meter dash in 2021 and the third place winner in the 200-meter. He also anchored the men's 4x100-meter relay team to an 8th-place finish at the NCAA's last year.
Head Coach of the Year – Based on record, historical significance, student-athlete respect and impact in the community
WINNER – Men's Basketball Head Coach Kelvin Sampson added another award to his trophy case from the 2021-22 season with his selection as the Coach of the Year.
Sampson led the Cougars to the NCAA Elite Eight for the second straight season and a sweep of the American Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles for only the fourth time in school history.
The Cougars recorded their second 30-win season under his watch and the program's seventh straight 20-win season, extending the school record.
For his and his team's impressive performances, Sampson was also named the CBS Sports National Coach of the Year and received the Ben Jobe Award, presented annually to the nation's top minority coach.
Sampson also was named the Coach of the Year by the American Athletic Conference, NABC District 24 and was honored as the Texas Coach of the Year by Dave Campbell's Texas Basketball Magazine.
Game of the Year – Based on crowd, opponent, intensity and historical significance
WINNER – Men's Basketball's 72-60 win over No. 2/2 Arizona in the NCAA Tournament South Region Semifinals was selected as the Game of the Year.
Behind a game-high 21 points and six rebounds from sophomore point guard Jamal Shead and 19 points and five 3-pointers from senior guard Kyler Edwards, the Cougars knocked off the South Region's No. 1 seed and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the second straight season.
The Cougars took a 2-0 lead 34 seconds into the game on graduate forward Fabian White Jr.'s bucket and were never tied or trailed against the Wildcats.
Play of the Year – Top play during 2021-22
WINNER – Houston Football's Marcus Jones used a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown inside the last minute of the game to lead the Cougars to a 44-37 victory against No. 19/16 SMU on Oct. 30, 2021, inside TDECU Stadium. The 100-yard kickoff return touchdown was just the second go-ahead kickoff return touchdown in the last 30 seconds of an FBS game in the last 15 years.
With the win, Houston moved to 5-0 in conference play for the sixth time in program history and first since 2015. The Cougars went on to run off 11 consecutive victories en route to an American Athletic Conference Championship appearance and Birmingham Bowl victory against Auburn.
Spirit Award – An individual who is proud to be a Cougar, supports other teams, have passion for the city, school and program
WINNER – The 2021-22 Homecoming King, Jordan Booker has been an outstanding part of the track and field program. An NCAA All-American Booker goes out of his way to support his fellow Cougars in every way possible. A member of SAAC, the sprinter has embodies what it means to be a true Cougar fan.
Staff Member of the Year – An individual who has impacted student-athletes in a significant way
WINNER – Financial Aid Coordinator Karma Meck, who recently retired, joined the University of Houston Department of Athletics in November 2013. In her role, she coordinates academic and athletic scholarship programs for nearly 400 Houston student-athletes. In addition, she works with Houston Athletics Compliance officials to ensure student financial aid meets NCAA regulations and regularly advises students and parents on scholarship opportunities, application processes and rules.
Ken Baxter Award – Individual whose volunteerism has positively impacted Houston Athletics during 2021-22
WINNER – Ashley Whitworth Beecher received a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from the University of Houston. She has spent the better part of a decade leading philanthropic efforts focused on the youth. Ashley served as Co-Chair of the University of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor/75 Year Celebration Gala in September. This event netted over $550,000 benefiting scholarships for student-athletes.
The Beechers' support and love for UH is a family affair. Ashley's husband Clark serves on the UH Board of Visitors Board. Ashley, Clark and their four children attend every UH Football game in their suite at TDECU stadium. They are members of the Corbin J. Robertson Society which provides full tuition and fees for one academic year for a student-athlete.
Besides her involvement at UH, Ashley serves on a number of other Boards and has been featured in the Houston Chronicle, National Public Radio, PaperCity Magazine and the Seaside Times for her philanthropic efforts. She is the Managing Partner and Owner of the Dawson Group which owns 5 restaurants and dessert concepts in Seaside, Fla.
Team of the Year – Based on GPA, community service and overall record
WINNER – Men's Basketball was recognized as the Team of the Year after posting a 32-6 record, sweeping the American Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles and advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight for the second straight season despite the unexpected loss of guards Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark to season-ending surgeries in December 2021.
The Cougars were ranked in both national polls for the fifth consecutive season, setting a school record, and stood at No. 7 in the final Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll, the second straight year in which Houston finished among the Top 10.
Cougar Choice Awards winners include:
Champion for Life – Awarded to an exceptionally well-rounded student-athlete based on the following criteria: academics, athletics, civic/community service and career development
WINNER – Katie Power has served as SAAC President for the past two years, as well as vice president for one year. She has served on the American Athletic Conference SAAC Executive Board for the past two years.
Power earned her Bachelor of Science in biology and will be attending medical school in the fall. Power helped the Cougars win their sixth consecutive American Athletic Conference title in February, marking her fifth title with Houston.
DJ Hayden Award – Student-athlete who has overcome significant obstacles in lift, has a positive outlook and pursues excellence despite obstacles
WINNER – Becca Schulte is one of the best stories in sports. The seventh-year senior has been a collegiate student-athlete since 2015, has attended three different schools, has played on the biggest stages, and has overcome injury and a whole lot more. Schulte is working on her second master's degree and competes at the Division I level in softball, all while raising a one-year-old. The Cougars' second baseman leads the team on the field in average, slugging, home runs, doubles, RBIs and walks.
Female Cougar of the Year – Awarded to Houston's top female student-athlete
WINNER – Chase Farris earned her third consecutive American Athletic Conference championship, as well as qualifying to her second consecutive NCAA Championships appearance.
At The American Championships, Farris claimed first place in the 3-meter diving event and placed third in both the 1-meter and platform diving events.
Male Cougar of the Year – Awarded to Houston's top male student-athlete
WINNER – With the conclusion of a career featuring nothing but winning, Men's Basketball graduate forward Fabian White Jr. was named the Male Cougar of the Year.
In 2021-22, White averaged 12.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game with a team-high 1.5 blocked shots per game to lead the Cougars to the NCAA Elite Eight for the second straight season.
Starting all 38 games to set a school single-season record, White was honored The American Championship Most Outstanding Player and was an All-American Athletic Conference First-Team selection by the league's head coaches.
Female Academic Cougar of the Year – A leader in the classroom
WINNER – Majoring in industrial engineering, Elizabeth Richardson was named the 2022 Female Academic Cougar of the Year at the Cougar Choice Awards. Richardson earned her third consecutive American Athletic Conference title with the Cougars in February.
Male Academic Cougar of the Year – A leader in the classroom
WINNER – Houston Football's Kyle Ramsey has excelled academically at the University of Houston, doing so while working towards his degree in electrical engineering. Ramsey, who has a 3.882 GPA, spent time working on a special project in the University of Houston swarm robotics lab, where he helped construct a robot that tracked and filmed runners in long distance races, such as a 5k or marathon. He is a member of member of Omicron Delta Kappa honor society and was invited to join Tau Beta Pi (engineering honor society) for being in the top 1/8th of his class.
Female Rookie of the Year – Freshman student-athlete who made significant contributions
WINNER – Henrietta Fangli was named Female Rookie of the Year after an impressive first season with the Cougars. At the American Athletic Conference Championships, Fangli earned an individual title in the 100-yard breaststroke, as well as a first-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay.
Male Rookie of the Year – Freshman student-athlete who made significant contributions
WINNER – A true freshman during the 2020-21 track and field season, Shaun Maswanganyi is a four-time track and field All-American. The sprinter was the NCAA national runner-up in the 100-meter dash in 2021 and the third place winner in the 200-meter. He also anchored the men's 4x100-meter relay team to an 8th-place finish at the NCAA's last year.
Head Coach of the Year – Based on record, historical significance, student-athlete respect and impact in the community
WINNER – Men's Basketball Head Coach Kelvin Sampson added another award to his trophy case from the 2021-22 season with his selection as the Coach of the Year.
Sampson led the Cougars to the NCAA Elite Eight for the second straight season and a sweep of the American Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles for only the fourth time in school history.
The Cougars recorded their second 30-win season under his watch and the program's seventh straight 20-win season, extending the school record.
For his and his team's impressive performances, Sampson was also named the CBS Sports National Coach of the Year and received the Ben Jobe Award, presented annually to the nation's top minority coach.
Sampson also was named the Coach of the Year by the American Athletic Conference, NABC District 24 and was honored as the Texas Coach of the Year by Dave Campbell's Texas Basketball Magazine.
Game of the Year – Based on crowd, opponent, intensity and historical significance
WINNER – Men's Basketball's 72-60 win over No. 2/2 Arizona in the NCAA Tournament South Region Semifinals was selected as the Game of the Year.
Behind a game-high 21 points and six rebounds from sophomore point guard Jamal Shead and 19 points and five 3-pointers from senior guard Kyler Edwards, the Cougars knocked off the South Region's No. 1 seed and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the second straight season.
The Cougars took a 2-0 lead 34 seconds into the game on graduate forward Fabian White Jr.'s bucket and were never tied or trailed against the Wildcats.
Play of the Year – Top play during 2021-22
WINNER – Houston Football's Marcus Jones used a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown inside the last minute of the game to lead the Cougars to a 44-37 victory against No. 19/16 SMU on Oct. 30, 2021, inside TDECU Stadium. The 100-yard kickoff return touchdown was just the second go-ahead kickoff return touchdown in the last 30 seconds of an FBS game in the last 15 years.
With the win, Houston moved to 5-0 in conference play for the sixth time in program history and first since 2015. The Cougars went on to run off 11 consecutive victories en route to an American Athletic Conference Championship appearance and Birmingham Bowl victory against Auburn.
Spirit Award – An individual who is proud to be a Cougar, supports other teams, have passion for the city, school and program
WINNER – The 2021-22 Homecoming King, Jordan Booker has been an outstanding part of the track and field program. An NCAA All-American Booker goes out of his way to support his fellow Cougars in every way possible. A member of SAAC, the sprinter has embodies what it means to be a true Cougar fan.
Staff Member of the Year – An individual who has impacted student-athletes in a significant way
WINNER – Financial Aid Coordinator Karma Meck, who recently retired, joined the University of Houston Department of Athletics in November 2013. In her role, she coordinates academic and athletic scholarship programs for nearly 400 Houston student-athletes. In addition, she works with Houston Athletics Compliance officials to ensure student financial aid meets NCAA regulations and regularly advises students and parents on scholarship opportunities, application processes and rules.
Ken Baxter Award – Individual whose volunteerism has positively impacted Houston Athletics during 2021-22
WINNER – Ashley Whitworth Beecher received a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies from the University of Houston. She has spent the better part of a decade leading philanthropic efforts focused on the youth. Ashley served as Co-Chair of the University of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor/75 Year Celebration Gala in September. This event netted over $550,000 benefiting scholarships for student-athletes.
The Beechers' support and love for UH is a family affair. Ashley's husband Clark serves on the UH Board of Visitors Board. Ashley, Clark and their four children attend every UH Football game in their suite at TDECU stadium. They are members of the Corbin J. Robertson Society which provides full tuition and fees for one academic year for a student-athlete.
Besides her involvement at UH, Ashley serves on a number of other Boards and has been featured in the Houston Chronicle, National Public Radio, PaperCity Magazine and the Seaside Times for her philanthropic efforts. She is the Managing Partner and Owner of the Dawson Group which owns 5 restaurants and dessert concepts in Seaside, Fla.
Team of the Year – Based on GPA, community service and overall record
WINNER – Men's Basketball was recognized as the Team of the Year after posting a 32-6 record, sweeping the American Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles and advancing to the NCAA Elite Eight for the second straight season despite the unexpected loss of guards Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark to season-ending surgeries in December 2021.
The Cougars were ranked in both national polls for the fifth consecutive season, setting a school record, and stood at No. 7 in the final Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll, the second straight year in which Houston finished among the Top 10.
Introducing Houston Blue
Friday, November 01
AD Eddie Nuñez Interview
Thursday, August 22
VP for Intercollegiate Athletics Eddie Nuñez Introductory Press Conference
Wednesday, August 21
Hall of Honor
Thursday, September 14