The Legends Award is the highest individual honor the Austin Peay athletics department awards each spring at its annual awards banquet. The award is presented to male and female student-athlete determined to be the department's "Most Valuable Senior Athlete," recognizing a student-athlete's contributions throughout their career.
The presentation of the Legends Award continues APSU’s long-standing tradition of honoring the most valuable male and female senior athletes, respectively. The award, sponsored by Legends Bank, assumes the place of The Joy Award, which was originated in 1947 by the late Wilson Goodrich, then owner of Joy’s Jewelers. From 1947-96, one APSU senior athlete was honored each year. However, beginning in 1997 a male and female senior athlete, respectively, was honored by Joy’s and that continued through 2008. However, Joy’s Jewelers closed and ended sponsorship of the award following the 2007-08 season.
Each spring all Austin Peay head coaches, athletics director and athletics administrative staff vote to determine the honorees from a list of nominated student-athletes. A permanent plaque display with recipients names is located in the Governors Club Room in the Dunn Center.
In 1996 the award was expanded with both a male and female Joy Award recipient. The first Joy Award recipient in 1947 was Dr. George Fisher, who also is a member of both the Austin Peay and Ohio Valley Conference Halls of Fame.
The Legends Award
|
| Season |
Men's Recipient |
Women's Recipient |
| 2008-09 |
Drake Reed & Lucas de Brito |
April Thomas |
| 2009-10 |
Daniel Becker |
Carrie Burggraf |
| 2010-11 |
Terrence Holt |
Chelsea Harris |
| 2011-12 |
Greg Bachman |
Vanja Tomic |
| 2012-13 |
Reed Harper |
Nikki Doyle |
| 2013-14 |
Anthony Bradley |
Tatiana Ariza |
| 2014-15 |
Aleksas Tverijonas |
Jada Stotts |
| 2015-16 |
Chris Horton |
Breigh Jones |
| 2016-17 |
Alex Robles |
Kaylnn Pitts |
| 2017-18 |
Malik Boynton |
Ashley Slay |
| 2018-19 |
Parker Phillips |
Lidia Yanes Garcia |
| 2019-20 |
Kyle Anderton |
Savannah Amato |
| 2020-21 |
Terry Taylor |
Fabienne Schmidt |
| 2021-22 |
Kordell Jackson |
Brooke Moore |
| from 2008-current, listed by year awarded, prior to 2008 the award was known as The Joy Award and its recipients can be found via this link. |
