University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Elkins, Reid Receive Big South’s Prestigious Christenberry Award
05.15.2024 | General, Men's Tennis, Women's Volleyball, Athletics News
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – UNC Asheville's Ona Elkins (volleyball) and Jon Brann Reid (men's tennis) have each been awarded the 2024 Big South Conference George A. Christenberry Award for Academic Excellence, the league announced Wednesday (May 15).
The award is given to the male and female student-athlete who attain the highest GPA during their undergraduate collegiate careers. This is the 12th consecutive year at least six student-athletes have been honored. The honor is named for George A. Christenberry, the former President of Augusta College (now Augusta University) and one of the founders of the Big South Conference. A member of the Big South Hall of Fame, Christenberry served as the league's first President from 1983-86.
Below is the complete list of this year's recipients:
- Radford women's soccer player Kristen Chick (4.00 in Allied Health Sciences)
- UNC Asheville volleyball player Ona Elkins (4.00 in International Studies/Political Science)
- Gardner-Webb women's swimmer Alexandra Haasser (4.00 in Biology/Biomedical Science)
- Presbyterian College men's cross country runner William Johnson (4.00 in History and Biochemistry)
- Presbyterian College men's soccer player Lorenzo Nagy (4.00 in Biology)
- UNC Asheville men's tennis player Jon Brann Reid (4.00 in Biology/Health & Wellness)
Elkins was named the Big South Volleyball Scholar Athlete of the Year for the 2023 season and was a two-time Big South All-Academic Team honoree. She received the UNC Asheville Talent Award Scholarship, is a McRae Scholar, is a recipient of the SECU Public Service Fellowship and has been named to the Chancellor's List. Elkins is also a SAAC Representative and was the president and treasurer of the political science club in her sophomore and junior years. She is also a member of the Political Science Honor Society and the XAE National Athletic Honor Society. During the summer of 2023, Elkins was awarded the International Experience Scholarship to study abroad in Japan. She was a team captain on the volleyball team for two seasons and finished the 2023 season with 375 assists, 20 service aces, and 160 digs in 85 sets. Elkins concluded her Asheville career with 295 sets played, 91 matches, 826 assists, 52 service aces, and 531 digs.
Reid (Hickory, N.C.) helped the Bulldogs win the 2024 Men's Tennis Championship this past April. This past season, he went 16-5 in singles play -- including 14 wins at No. 3 and 3-1 in conference. He teamed up with Rafa Serra at No. 1 doubles to go 11-5 en route to First Team All-Conference honors. Reid was voted the Big South Men's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was also named to the Big South Men's Tennis All-Academic Team. The 2021 Big South Men's Tennis Freshman of the Year, Reid's career honors also include 2021, 2022 and 2023 Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete and 2023 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District recognition; Four-time All-Conference distinction in doubles (2021-22-23-24), and two All-Conference plaudits for singles play (2021-22).
The duo becomes the eighth and ninth Bulldogs ever to receive the distinction.
Ralf Melis, men's basketball (1995-96)Natasha Lucki, women's tennis (2005-06)
Adee Weller, women's swimming (2019-20)
India Appleton, women's cross country/track (2021-22)
Gillian Oyos, women's soccer (2021-22)
Grace Volk, volleyball (2021-22)
Alice Walker, women's soccer (2021-22)
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