HARRISONBURG, Va. – EMU Athletics held its annual Athletics Awards Ceremony on Monday, April 21, celebrating and recognizing the accomplishments of our student-athletes and teams during the 2024-25 academic year. Over the next few days, we will recap each of the major award winners.

The Freshman Athlete of the Year award is given annually to the male and female freshman student-athlete with the most outstanding athletic achievement in the current academic year. Student-athletes also had to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 or higher to be eligible. Read on to learn more about this year's winners:

Male Freshman of the Year: Ezekiel Awkward (Men's Volleyball)

Awkward, a native of Bloomfield, N.J., made an immediate impact as an outside hitter on the men's volleyball team. Awkward ranked second on the team and ninth in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) in total kills with 227. Awkward was also a significant contributor in the service game for the Royals, placing second on the team and fifth in the ODAC in service aces with 30. Awkward's efforts helped lift EMU to a 15-16 record, a third-place finish in the ODAC, and a spot in the conference's inaugural men's volleyball tournament.

"Ezekiel is a man of few words that leads by example, works hard, is dedicated and responsible, always pushing hard to get better, and an excellent teammate," Head Men's Volleyball Coach Omar Hoyos Aliff said.

Female Freshman of the Year: Ava Walker (Lacrosse)

Walker, hailing from Glen Allen, Va., proved to be a prolific goal scorer for Head Coach Mikaela Brooks-Fauver and the EMU Lacrosse team in 2025. Walker led all Royals with 46 goals on the season, setting the single-season school record for goals. Walker also set EMU's single-game goals record, scoring nine times in the Royals' victory over Averett on April 5. In the ODAC, Walker ranked seventh in goals per game (2.71), eighth in shots per game (5.53), and 12th in total points (58). With Walker's help, EMU Lacrosse experienced its winningest season in program history, going 6-11 overall and 4-6 in ODAC play.

"From the first day that Ava stepped onto the lacrosse field, it was clear that she was something special," Brooks-Fauver said. "Beyond the stats and the highlight plays, what makes Ava stand out is her mindset. She shows up early, puts in the extra reps, and lead with quiet confidence and heart."
 
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