Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell

NEWARK, Del. -- Seven University of Delaware student-athletes from fall sports programs have been selected as their team’s 2010 Blue Hen Team Sportsmanship Award winner for this past season, UD Director of Athletics Bernard Muir announced.

The program, now in its seventh year, honors those student-athletes who have been outstanding role models and displayed outstanding sportsmanship towards their teammates, coaches, opponents, and game officials. The winners receive a certificate noting their award. Winners from winter and spring sports will be announced following each season later this year.

The 2010 fall winners are Kevin Kemmerle from men’s cross country; Amanda McGowan from women’s cross country; senior Casey Howard (at right) from field hockey; senior John Higginson from football; Megan Delaney from women’s soccer; Kris Devaux from men’s soccer; and Jess Chason from volleyball.

Kemmerle, a senior from Dover, Del. (Dover HS), is an honor student as a health and physical education major at Delaware with a coaching science minor. He ran in all seven events during the 2009 season and posted his top finish with a seventh place showing at the Delaware Invitational. He also was 25th at the UD Blue & Gold Invitational and 36th at the Colonial Athletic Association championships.

McGowan, a senior from Wilmington, Del. (Mt. Pleasant HS), is an honor student as a marketing major with a minor in French at Delaware. She competed in two meets during the 2009 season and finished 48th at the Delaware Invitational and 94th at the UD Blue and Gold Invitational.

Howard, a senior from Camden, Del. (Caesar Rodney HS), is an elementary education major at Delaware. She enjoyed an outstanding season this past fall as she was the leading scorer for a UD squad that captured the CAA Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Howard ranked among the national leaders in scoring as she tallied a school record 22 goals and 51 points. She earned first team All-CAA, first team all NFHCA All-Region, second team All-East, and second team All-American honors.

Higginson, a senior defensive end from Amherst, Mass. (Amherst HS), is an honor student as a finance major at Delaware with a minor in economics. He was a three-year starter who posted 36 tackles in 2009, including a team-best 8.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He played in 44 career games and collected 112 tackles, including 21 tackles for loss and 14 sacks.

Delaney, a senior defender from Gaithersburg, Md. (Damascus HS), is an honor student in accounting at Delaware. She started all 17 games for Delaware this season and tallied her first collegiate goal in the Sept. 18 victory over Delaware State. She was named to the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA District 2 All-Academic second team this past fall.

DeVaux, a sophomore from Lititz, Pa. (Warwick HS), is as a sport management major at Delaware with a minor in business. He did not see game action in 2008 or 2009 as a backup goalkeeper but is a two-time CAA Academic Honor selection.

Chason, a junior from Harrisburg, N.C. (Cabarrus HS), is an honor student as a business major at Delaware. She earned first team All-CAA honors this past fall when she also was named the CAA Setter of the Year after leading the league in assists with 10.2 per game. She led the Hens to a share of the CAA regular season title. As a sophomore in 2008, she was named the CAA Tournament Most Valuable Player in leading Delaware to the league title and an NCAA playoff berth.