Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan Marks 10 Years of the YPSI Awards with Night of Recognition
4/21/2026 3:05:00 PM | General
Student-athletes, coaches, and staff honored for performance, academics, and leadership across EMU Athletics
Photo Gallery | Cinematic Recap | Complete Show
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — A decade of celebration took center stage as the Eastern Michigan University Department of Athletics hosted its 10th annual YPSI Awards Show Monday evening, April 20, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
The milestone event brought together student-athletes, coaches, staff, and supporters to recognize the top achievements across EMU Athletics during the 2025-26 academic year. The night highlighted success in competition, excellence in the classroom, and leadership throughout the community, continuing a tradition that has defined the YPSIs for the past decade.
With a mix of energy, celebration, and reflection, the program honored standout performances and the individuals behind them. Coaches nominated student-athletes for each award, with finalists selected across categories before winners were chosen through a vote by EMU's varsity teams.
Among the most prestigious awards of the night, Dontae McMillan of football and Mackenzie Blackwell of women's lacrosse were named Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year, respectively, recognizing their standout seasons and impact on their programs.
Josh Long of football earned the title of Breakout Student-Athlete of the Year, while Saraiah Walkes of women's track and field was honored for Best Performance.
The coveted Team of the Year award went to women's lacrosse, a testament to their success and consistency throughout the season.
Sam Borgert, of women's lacrosse, received the Julia Lombardi Leadership & Eagle Spirit Award, recognizing her commitment to leadership and community engagement.
The Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were presented to Kevin Krill (Baseball) and Annika Wozney (Women's Lacrosse), respectively, reflecting EMU's dedication to academic excellence.
Erica Zonder was named Professor of the Year, and Gabe Schmidt, SASS Academic Coordinator, earned Support Staff of the Year honors.
Additional Winners and Highlights
Eagle Cup Winner: Volleyball
Eagles U Achievement Award: Roya Khaleeli (Lacrosse)
Assistant Coach of the Year: Trevor Beerman (Baseball)
Coach of the Year: Maddie Dugan (Women's Lacrosse)
