Photo courtesy of VT Athletics- Bashir Mosavel-Lo and Sarah Spicer have received BT athletics’ highest award for their success in the classroom, in athletics and in the community.
Virginia Tech women’s golfer Sarah Spicer and men’s track and field athlete Bashir Mosavel-Lo were announced this week as winners of the 2020 Skelton Award for Academic Excellence in Athletics, the highest designation handed out by the Tech athletics department.
The duo won the awards as a result of their academic successes, their athletic success oand their service to the community.
The Skelton Award is named after Dr. Bill and Peggy Skelton. The late Dr. Skelton served in the Corps of Cadets and graduated from Virginia Tech in 1940. He later worked as a dean of the Virginia Cooperative Extension division at Tech.
The late Peggy Skelton was a faculty member and director of the Cooperative Extension Family Resource Program in the College of Home Economics at Virginia Tech. Both were charter members of the Ut Prosim Society and its President’s Circle and combined for more than 100 years of support to the university in various capacities.
The award is presented each year to rising junior, senior or fifth-year male and female student-athletes who have participated in intercollegiate athletics for at least two seasons at Tech and who hold an overall grade-point average of 3.40 or better. Each recipient receives a $5,000 scholarship of $5,000.
"Bill and Peggy Skelton grew up on rural farms, learning early the value of solid work efforts, high ethical standards, a sense of community, and service to others," said John Skelton and Jean Skelton, children of the award’s namesakes. "They appreciated the opportunities that came their way in life and at Virginia Tech and wished to ‘pay it forward.’ It was their hope, as is ours, that the Skelton Award will recognize the diligent work, efforts and commitment of our Hokie student-athletes and will inspire them to carry forward the spirit of our university’s motto, Ut Prosim [‘That I May Serve’]."
A redshirt junior from Bahama, N.C., Spicer has competed in 15 rounds for the Hokies during her career, with a career average of 77. She currently is pursuing a degree in economics with a minor in statistics.
"In my time in Blacksburg, I have encountered so many Hokies that are dedicated in their pursuits and truly embrace the spirit of Ut Prosim," Spicer said. "Dr. and Mrs. Skelton were two clear examples of Hokies devoted to helping and supporting the community, so receiving an award in their honor is truly one of the greatest distinctions I could imagine being given.
"I am incredibly appreciative of being chosen as this year’s recipient,” Spicer said. “I want to continue giving back and supporting others as the Skeltons and so many other Hokies have done. I will always cherish this award, and I hope that my future actions will make the Skelton family and the entire Hokie community proud."
Mosavel-Lo, a junior from Richmond, was the ACC champion in the 800-meter run at the 2019 ACC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. He went on to earn second-team All-America honors in the event. He was slated to compete on the men’s distance medley relay team at this year’s NCAA Indoor Championships before the NCAA cancelled all spring and winter sports championships because of the effects of the coronavirus.
Mosavel-Lo is pursuing a degree in industrial and systems engineering.
"It means so much to me to receive this award," he said. "The start to 2020 has been a difficult time for everyone, and now more than ever, we should come together as a community. Receiving this award only reinforces my desire to bring people closer together and be a leader wherever I may go."
Virginia Tech Athletics canceled its honors celebration in light of the worldwide pandemic, but still honored numerous student-athletes for their work in the classroom and in competition. Department officials named Jessica Spicer and Aaron Boyd as the 2019 Virginia Tech Female Athlete of the Year and the Virginia Tech Male Athlete of the Year, respectively.
Jessica Spicer, Sarah’s twin sister, is a double major in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience and psychology. In 2019, she was named to the Women’s College Golf Association All-American Scholar team and the All-ACC Academic Women’s Golf Team. Her grades have also landed her on the ACC Academic Honor Roll.
On the golf course in 2019, she ranked third on the team in scoring average at 74.80 and fourth on the Virginia Tech career scoring list at 75.83. Last summer, she won the Carolinas Women’s Amateur Championship and placed second, along with her teammate and sister, at the 42ndCarolinas Women’s Four-Ball Championship.
Boyd, a senior from Fairfax, Va., is on the men’s swimming team and is currently in pursuit of a degree in business information technology. In 2019, he earned first place in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 freestyle and second in the 100 butterfly at the Virginia Tech Invite. He also placed third in the 400 freestyle against Virginia.
Out of the pool, he has been a member of the Virginia Tech Dean’s List for the past three years and is a three-time member of both the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Honor Roll and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll for achieving a 3.0 or higher grade-point average.
The athletic department also recognized student-athletes who earned a 4.0 GPA during the 2019 calendar year.Honored were Jessica Spicer (women’s golf), Sarah Spicer (women’s golf), Nora Wrenger (women’s golf), Regan Westwood (women’s swimming), Elizabet Danailova (women’s tennis), Ashley Pennington (athletic training), Jenna Ruby (athletic training), Georgia Brandt (athletic training), and Keely Ledford (HokieVision).
Finally, the department recognized its 2019 All-Academic Team, which includes the top student-athlete academically in his/her sport. Honored were Jonathan Kabongo (men’s basketball), Aisha Sheppard (women’s basketball), Tyler Leeser (men’s cross country), Mikayla Richardson (women’s cross country), Oscar Bradburn (football), Tom Crow (men’s golf), Kayleigh Addington (softball), Hayden Kickbush (men’s soccer), Emily Gray (women’s soccer), Keith Myburgh (men’s swimming), Jaelyn Demory (men’s track and field), Emma Thor (women’s track and field), Ryan Kros (men’s tennis), Talyn Jackson (volleyball), Josh Baier (wrestling), Peyton Alford (baseball), Sierra Bennett (cheerleading), Margaret Brothers (HighTechs), Delaney Peterson (HighTechs), Caitlyn Hutcheson (HighTechs), Brent Miller (baseball manager), and Sarah Vanadia (lacrosse).
