BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Gulf South Conference has announced its 14th annual “Top Ten” Awards, which includes University of Arkansas at Monticello senior softball player Becca Tipton.

These awards, based on athletic, academic and extracurricular achievement during the 2009-10 academic year, recognize the top five male and top five female student-athletes as the cream of the GSC crop.  The top male and female receive the Commissioner’s Trophy, the Conference’s most prestigious honor.

Along with recognizing each of this year’s award winners, the Commissioner’s Trophy will be presented at the GSC’s Annual Awards Banquet this Thursday, June 24, at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Hoover, Ala. at 6 p.m. At that time, the GSC will also recognize its All-Sports Trophy Champions and bid farewell to departing administrator, Henderson State Athletic Director Sam Goodwin.

The “Top Ten” are selected with the assistance of an advisory committee representing athletic administrators and presidents from randomly selected GSC schools, which makes a recommendation to the Commissioner, who has the final decision.  Ties are not broken, so more than 10 student-athletes can be honored.

Tipton becomes UAM’s fifth GSC “Top Ten” award recipient, including the fourth straight selection from the UAM Softball program. Lindsey Kight was the first UAM selection in 2004 when the award was called the GSC “Top Eight.” Sarah Reed earned the award in 2007, followed by Meredith Heckel in 2008 and Lindsey Randall in 2009.

The following in an excerpt from the GSC release announcing the 2009-10 “Top Ten” award winners:
Arkansas-Monticello’s Becca Tipton spends a lot of time on the softball diamond in anonymity, covered up by the catcher’s gear that leaves her a lot less face time than that of her teammates. But make no mistake, her contributions on and off the field have left an indelible mark on her team, school and community to earn a spot among the GSC “Top Ten.”

The Dermott, Ark. native capped an impressive collegiate career in 2010, claiming the GSC West Division Player of the Year award, as well as earning the Daktronics South Region Player of the Year and a spot on the All-America First Team as the Cotton Blossoms enjoyed the best season in team history. Individually, Tipton set school records in batting average (.472), hits (102), doubles (26) and on-base percentage (.511). Her 71 runs batted in tied another team mark.

Tipton’s softball prowess is that much more remarkable when considering she switched positions, from outfielder to catcher. Her play as an outfielder was stellar, earning her GSC West Freshman of the Year in 2007 and GSC West First Team honors in 2009. She was named Second Team All-South Region after both of those seasons.

As strong as Tipton was playing softball, she may have been more dominant in the classroom. Her head coach, Alvy Early, said Tipton “takes her education very seriously and understands that this will be her greatest asset.” The health and physical education major has a 3.55 grade point average and has already graduated Cum Laude. She’s a four-time member of the Dean’s List and also made the Chancellor’s List in 2009. The last two years, she was a member of the GSC All-Academic Team and the ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. Tipton is also a member of the Phi Alpha Theta history honor society and the HPER/Exercise Science Club.

As adept as Tipton has been at receiving awards, she has also been very giving of her time to many community efforts. She has worked as a volunteer with the UAM Special Olympics and several blood drives. She has twice participated in the Relay for Life, helps coach youth at summer softball camps and assisted the Student Athlete Advisory Committee in raising $1,500 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“Ms. Tipton has distinguished herself among her peers as a person who is dedicated, knowledgeable, professional and loyal,” Early said. “Becca always maintains a sense of fairness that is impressive, and she always exerts a positive, constructive influence on those around her.”

The 2009-10 GSC “Top Ten” award winners:
MEN
Brandon Friedel, Arkansas Tech (basketball)
Joe Koenigsfeld, Valdosta State (baseball)
Josh Moshier, Alabama-Huntsville (cross country)
Brett Munson, North Alabama (golf)
Hayden Simpson, Southern Arkansas (baseball)

WOMEN
Katy Grant, Harding (cross country)
Natalia Gumbrecht, Valdosta State (tennis)
Courtney Jones, West Florida (soccer)
Becca Tipton, Arkansas-Monticello (softball)
Bethany Wright, Henderson State (volleyball)