Two seniors and department chair honored at annual athletics forum
By Ben Risinger, sports information director
April 19, 2005
Past Award Winners
Burcky | Little | Jones | About the awards
BLUFFTON, Ohio – The Bluffton University athletics department has announced the outstanding senior male and female student-athlete awards and the outstanding supporter for athletics award on Tuesday, April 19, at the annual athletics award forum. Senior Scott Steiner ( Berne, Ind./South Adams), senior Allison Lange (Archbold, Ohio/Archbold) and Tami Forbes, chair of the Health, Physical Education and Recreation dept., were recognized for their achievements.
Judson Laipply, a professional motivational speaker and Bluffton alumna, spoke on "Staying Ahead in the Game of Life.” Laipply lettered in baseball for four years (1994-98) while at Bluffton and was involved in several different student organizations. He graduated with departmental honors from the university.
Steiner received the A.C. Burcky Award which is presented to the outstanding male senior athlete each year. Steiner was a four-year starter on the football team and captain his senior year. He has been active in the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and always goes the extra mile to help out his teammates. Steiner has been a three time All-Heartland Conference recipient in football, earning a second team spot as a sophomore and junior and first team as a senior.
Lange was named the outstanding senior female athlete as she was given the Kathryn E. Little Award. Lange has been a four-year starter on the softball team and captain her junior and senior seasons. She was named second team All-American, first team All-Region and first team All-HCAC as a junior. Lange currently owns several single-season hitting records for the Beavers. Lange was active in the FCA and was a student trainer for the football and men’s basketball teams.
Forbes was honored with the Larry W. Jones Award for her outstanding support of Bluffton University athletic teams and programs. Forbes is chair of the Health, Physical Education and Recreation department and has been at Bluffton since 1984. Forbes can be seen on the sidelines of many athletic events and is always available if a student, coach or administrator needs someone to talk to.
A.C. Burcky served as Bluffton’s athletics director from 1922 through 1968 and was a charter member of the Bluffton Hall of Fame in 1974. He was inducted into the NAIA National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962 and was named Professor Emeritus of Physical Education when he retired in 1968.
Kathryn E. Little served in the health, physical education and recreation department from 1958 to 1974 and was instrumental in making the women’s athletic program what it is today. She was also a charter member of the Bluffton Hall of Fame in 1974.
Larry Jones graduated from Bluffton in 1970 and was a varsity basketball player while at Bluffton University. He later served as an athletics official before being killed in an automobile accident in 1978.
