Grimes, Maxwell named 2024-25 OVC Community Service Award winners

By TTU Sports Information and OVC Media Relations

OVC Community Service Awards History

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The recipients of the 2024-25 OVC Community Service Awards have been announced.

The awards, first bestowed in 2022-23, are based on activities that took place during the 2024-25 academic year and recognize outstanding student-athletes for the contributions they make away from the playing surface, both on campus and in the community.

Tech had two selections on the list, including Reghan Grimes (Women’s Basketball) and Haden Maxwell (Men’s Golf). Throughout her career, Grimes has taken part in a number of volunteer activities and spent time throughout the community, including FCA Meal for Spirit, the Capshaw Cougar Run, providing food at the local rescue mission, and Algood’s Read Across America, just to name a few. Maxwell assisted with local neighborhood trash pick-ups, Math Family Engagement Night at Capshaw Elementary, bell ringing at the Cookeville Rescue Mission, the Lego Challenge engineering competition, and many more opportunities to help out across the community. 

OVC member institutions that competed in the League during the 2024-25 academic year were able to select a maximum of one male and one female student-athlete from their institution to be honored. In total, 18 individuals were honored with the awards this year.

“The OVC has always been about a sense of community,” said OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche. “We are delighted to continue to bestow these awards to these outstanding student-athletes who are giving back to their communities.”

The 2024-25 recipients are:

• Joel Allen (cross country/track & field), Little Rock
• Hayden Bell (rifle), Morehead State
• Sam Cruz (cross country/track & field), Eastern Illinois
• Nathan Deputy (swimming & diving), Southern Indiana
• Taylor Ellis (tennis), Tennessee State
• Mary Fetter (soccer), SIUE
• Liz Galvin (soccer), Eastern Illinois
• Reghan Grimes (basketball), Tennessee Tech
• Myah Hough (beach volleyball), Lindenwood
• Kolby Jones (track & field), Tennessee State
• David Kamwanga (basketball), UT Martin
• Haden Maxwell (golf), Tennessee Tech
• Jack Meyer (baseball), Lindenwood
• Katja Mueller (golf), Little Rock
• Vanessa Shafford (basketball), Southern Indiana
• Kayla Turner (soccer), Western Illinois
• Elena Verdecchia (beach volleyball), Morehead State
• Rileigh Weiss (equestrian), UT Martin