Megan Wielonski, left, and Payton Bennet, join Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell at a Ball State Foundation awards ceremony on Saturday, March 23.
Wielonski and Bennett Named Among Ball State's Top 10 Students
March 26, 2024 | General, Women's Golf, Women's Volleyball, Cardinal Varsity Club
MUNCIE, Ind. - - When Ball State's Top 100 Students list was announced by the Ball State University Foundation in February, seven student-athletes were named within the Top 100. It was the third straight year that exactly seven Cardinals student-athletes were awarded with that recognition. During an awards ceremony on Saturday, March 23, two were among the top ten with women's volleyball player Megan Wielonski named the No. 1 student at Ball State according to applications scored by a group of Ball State alumni from around the country. Women's golfer Payton Bennett was also in the top 10.
Wielonski, a junior setter from South Lebanon, Ohio, was the 2022 Mid-American Conference Setter of the Year and a two-time All-MAC first team honoree. She majors in sports administration, with a minor in marketing.
"What an amazing honor for Megan!," exclaimed women's volleyball coach Kelli Miller-Phillips. "She has worked so hard in the classroom, on the court and as a leader to develop herself and the hard work is continuing to pay off. She's a great role model for her teammates with her focus, drive and toughness. I am truly excited to see what she will do her senior year!"
Bennett, also a junior, hails from Stoney Creek, Ontario and majors in sociology. She is active as part of Ball State's Student-Athlete Advisory Council and has earned distinction the past two years as a member of the Women's Collegiate Golf Association's All-American Scholar Team.
"We are so proud of Payton for earning this incredible distinction," said women's golf coach Cameron Andry. "Payton embodies a dedicated student-athlete. She excels in the classroom while also serving in a number of ways in the community and within the university. She is organized, dependable, responsible, caring, and dedicated and we are so thankful for the way she represents the Ball State women's golf program!Â
Since 2022, the Top 100 Student award recognizes 100 outstanding undergraduates at Ball State who represent beneficence both in and out of the classroom. All Top 100 Student award recipients will be honored during One Ball State Day on Wednesday, April 3. Four student-athletes - Bennett, Ali Khan (men's golf), Grace Sumner (gymnastics) and Wielonski - were named among the Top 50 on that list. Â
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Wielonski, a junior setter from South Lebanon, Ohio, was the 2022 Mid-American Conference Setter of the Year and a two-time All-MAC first team honoree. She majors in sports administration, with a minor in marketing.
"What an amazing honor for Megan!," exclaimed women's volleyball coach Kelli Miller-Phillips. "She has worked so hard in the classroom, on the court and as a leader to develop herself and the hard work is continuing to pay off. She's a great role model for her teammates with her focus, drive and toughness. I am truly excited to see what she will do her senior year!"
Bennett, also a junior, hails from Stoney Creek, Ontario and majors in sociology. She is active as part of Ball State's Student-Athlete Advisory Council and has earned distinction the past two years as a member of the Women's Collegiate Golf Association's All-American Scholar Team.
"We are so proud of Payton for earning this incredible distinction," said women's golf coach Cameron Andry. "Payton embodies a dedicated student-athlete. She excels in the classroom while also serving in a number of ways in the community and within the university. She is organized, dependable, responsible, caring, and dedicated and we are so thankful for the way she represents the Ball State women's golf program!Â
Since 2022, the Top 100 Student award recognizes 100 outstanding undergraduates at Ball State who represent beneficence both in and out of the classroom. All Top 100 Student award recipients will be honored during One Ball State Day on Wednesday, April 3. Four student-athletes - Bennett, Ali Khan (men's golf), Grace Sumner (gymnastics) and Wielonski - were named among the Top 50 on that list. Â
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