Student-athletes gather on the red carpet before last year’s Rebels’ Choice Awards ceremony.
OXFORD, Miss. – Spring is in full bloom on the University of Mississippi campus and that means the sixth annual Rebels’ Choice Awards are just around the corner. The annual event, celebrating the accomplishments – both academic and athletic – of Ole Miss student-athletes, is slated for April 25 in The Pavilion at Ole Miss.
Richard Cross will serve as master of ceremonies and DJ Babi Mac will be a special guest.
The Rebels’ Choice Awards was established to celebrate Ole Miss student-athletes, but the entire Lafayette-Oxford-University community is invited to share this special evening. The awards show is free and open to the public.
“The Rebel Choice Awards is a unique opportunity to showcase the most important reason why we host intercollegiate athletics – our student-athletes,” Athletics Director Ross Bjork said. “With all of the momentum around the entire university and our athletics program, hosting the 2016 Rebel Choice Awards in the brand new Pavilion at Ole Miss is a perfect way to showcase our academic, social and athletic excellence.
“April 25 is a can’t-miss event, and we hope all members of the Ole Miss family can attend.”
The red carpet, featuring Ole Miss student-athletes, will begin at 5:30 p.m. on the Pavilion plaza, with the awards show scheduled for 6:30 p.m. In addition, Steak ‘n Shake and Raising Cane’s will be open before the show.
The Rebels’ Choice Awards include 18 awards in which members of Ole Miss senior administration and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee select the winners. Awards include men’s and women’s sports winners in the following categories: Most Valuable Rebel, Rookie of the Year, Coach of the Year, Team of the Year, Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Hotty Toddy Award.
“The Rebels’ Choice Awards sheds light on not only the athletic ability of many of our student-athletes, but it also shows the intellect and comradeship that is displayed amongst all athletes,” said Deterrian “DT” Shackelford, a former football defensive lineman and linebacker who won the Men’s Hotty Toddy Award in 2014 and the Men’s Community Outreach Award in 2012. “Truly an awesome and inspiring event!”
The honors also include the Bennie Abram Award, given annually in memory of former Ole Miss football walk-on Bennie Abram, who died Feb. 19, 2010. The award goes to a walk-on student-athlete who exemplifies Abram’s spirit.
The Rebels’ Choice Awards is built into the celebration of National Student-Athlete Day, which is celebrated each year in April.
Established in 1987, National Student-Athlete Day was created to celebrate outstanding student-athletes who have achieved excellence in academics and athletics while having made significant contributions to the community. The observance was established by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports and Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society, and is co-sponsored by the NCAA.
The mission of Ole Miss’ student-athlete development program is to challenge student-athletes to be lifelong learners while pursuing continuous improvement academically, relationally, socially, personally and professionally during and beyond their athletic careers.
Student-Athlete Development is the hub for a wide range of Ole Miss athletics-sponsored programs designed to meet the needs of student-athletes and their families. It is divided into six areas: Student-Athlete Assistance Services, Career Development, Continuing Education, Community Outreach, Financial Education and Career Transition.
Visit Student-Athlete Development for more information on these programs.