UD Athletics honors student-athletes
Photos by Athletic Department May 21, 2021
The Hennie Awards were presented in health-conscious ceremony at Delaware Stadium
The University of Delaware Athletics Department and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee held its annual Hennie Awards on Tuesday, May 18, at Delaware Stadium.
With health and safety in mind, student-athletes, coaches and administrators followed social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines put forth by the University, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State of Delaware.
SAAC member's Milo Nagle of men's tennis and Chayanna Gallardo of softball guided the awards presentation.
The major awards that were presented were: Most Outstanding Male Athlete, Most Outstanding Female Athlete, the Edgar Johnson and the Mary Ann Hitchens Award, and the Chuck Hall Strength and Conditioning Awards. Additional awards announced were Team MVPs, Team Sportsmanship Awards, community service and academic honors.
Edgar Johnson Award Winner
Dejoun Lee, a member of the football team from Springfield, Virginia, made an immediate impact on and off the field upon his arrival at UD. Voted team captain, Lee was a Walter Payton Award Finalist and earned Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Player of the Year and All-CAA First Team honors. Lee served as the Co-Chair for Student-Athlete Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and played a key role in starting the committee. He has also worked closely with Reps for Kids and UDance. In the classroom, the International Business Studies major carries a 3.67 GPA in his graduate studies, and was a CAA Commissioner's Honor Roll recipient and Dean's List student.
Mary Ann Hitchens Award Winner
Chayanna Gallardo, a member of the softball team from Pueblo, Colorado, embodies the everyday culture of being a Blue Hen. A three-year SAAC member, while serving on the Executive Board as a senior, Gallardo was selected to represent UD at the CAA Student Athlete Leadership Summit. With a passion for giving back, Gallardo served on the Student Life Advisory Board, was a HENS Mentor, and the softball program’s UDance liaison. She committed herself to self-improvement, leading to her becoming the starting catcher and recording the best offensive season of her career. Academically, Gallardo earned CAA Commissioner’s Honor Roll accolades, while majoring in Elementary Teacher Education with a GPA of 3.68.
Most Outstanding Female Athlete
Jasmine Dickey, a member of the women’s basketball team from Catonsville, Maryland, was the CAA Player of the Year, and a member of the CAA All-Defensive Team, CAA All-Tournament Team and the WNIT All-Tournament Team. She ranked fourth in the nation with 656 points and 12th with a 22.6 scoring average. She led the CAA and ranked 10th in the country with 71 steals, and was third in the league with 9.1 rebounds.
Most Outstanding Male Athlete
Charlie Kitchen, a member of the men’s lacrosse team from Marlton, New Jersey, was named a Tewaaraton Top-25 nominee (awarded to the nation’s best men’s and women’s lacrosse player). Kitchen led the team in points (49) and assists (25), while ranking third in goals scored (24). He recorded three or more points in all nine games during the 2021 season and became one of just six players in program history to eclipse 200 career points.
Chuck Hall Award (Female)
Femke Strien, a member of the women’s field hockey team from Ijsselstein, The Netherlands, overcame adversity to accomplish her goals in the classroom, community and weight room and on the field. She has used her time in the weight room to recover from injury and improve her prowess on the pitch. She was a First Team All-American and was CAA Offensive Player of the Year in 2019 and the CAA Most Outstanding Player of the 2020 Field Hockey tournament.
Chuck Hall Award (Male)
Dejoun Lee, a member of the football team from Springfield, Virginia, is a fierce competitor with an infectious passion for the weight room and is pound for pound the strongest football player on the team. His leadership and dedication has helped Delaware football return to national prominence. Lee earned second team All-American honors and was named CAA Offensive Player of the Year.
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