Red Tie Dinner to Honor Six

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Six student-athletes representing six different programs will be honored with the Salute to Excellence Award at the 20th Annual Red Tie Dinner and Auction.

Each year, the Razorbacks recognize student-athletes whose performance throughout their career raised their respective sport to new heights while striving to uphold the athletic department’s character goals.

This year’s honorees include:

  • Brooks Ellis, football
  • Moses Kingsley, men’s basketball
  • Lindsey Mayo, soccer
  • Jarrion Lawson, men’s track and field
  • Amanda Wellick, gymnastics
  • Lexi Weeks, women’s track and field

The winners will be honored at the Red Tie Dinner on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017 at the John Q. Hammons Center, located in the Embassy Suites in Rogers, Arkansas. The reception and silent auction begins at 5:30 p.m. with dinner and the program beginning at 7 p.m.

Tickets are still available for purchase. For more information or details about sponsorships still available for the Red Tie Dinner, please contact Susie Shinn of the Razorback Foundation at (479) 443-9000. You may also visit the Razorback Foundation website for more information.

Brooks Ellis, football
First two-time Academic All-American in program history and 20th football Academic All-American in school history … Only football student-athlete from the SEC to be selected to the Academic All-America first team … 2016 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year … One of 12 finalists for the 2016 William V. Campbell Trophy, which is considered by many to be the “Academic Heisman” … Named a 2016 Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist … Selected to the 2016 SEC Community Service Team … Three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member and two-year team captain … Led the Razorbacks in tackles during the regular season for the second straight year with 83 after recording 102 in 2015 … Added a team-high 7.0 tackles for loss, including a sack … For his career, has totaled 290 tackles, including 22.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, 14 pass breakups and four interceptions, returning one 47 yards for a touchdown during a win at then-No. 15 TCU.

Moses Kingsley, men’s basketball
Became the third SEC Preseason Player of the Year in program history in 2016-17 … Entered his senior year on preseason watch lists for the Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award and Lute OIson Award … Is currently one of two players in program history to reach 900 points, 600 rebounds and 200 blocks, joining Razorbacks legend Oliver Miller as the only players to accomplish the feat … Named second team All-SEC as a junior and landed on the 2015-16 SEC All-Defensive Team … Named to the 2014-15 SEC Community Service Team and is a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member … Is one of 30 candidates in the running for the 2016-17 Senior CLASS Award, an honor given annually to a men’s basketball student-athlete who excels both on and off the court … Is a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and was named a Senior of Significance by the University of Arkansas Alumni Association … Is scheduled to graduate this spring with a degree in recreation and sport management.

Lindsey Mayo, soccer
Member of the Razorback Soccer team from 2012-16 … Been a part of teams that have played in three NCAA Tournaments (2013, 2014, 2016) and four SEC Tournaments (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016) … In her final season (2016), she scored a career-high and team-leading 10 goals with five game-winners … Also earned one assist and 21 points for the season … Helped lead the Razorbacks to the SEC Tournament championship match and the second round of the NCAA Tournament … Excelled by maintaining a 3.77 GPA while majoring with a dual degree in Honors Chemical Engineering and Physics … She conducted award-winning research on the emissions testing of non-catalytic wood-burning heating units during the Spring 2015 semester as well as competing in the NMSU WERC Competition with her team finishing second overall … A two-time member of Razorback Soccer’s “Leadership Council” (2015, 2016) and a four-year participant in the Razorback Leadership Academy.

Jarrion Lawson, men’s track and field
2016 Bowerman Award winner (top collegiate male track athlete)… 2016 Roy F. Kramer SEC Male Athlete of the Year … Became only the second man to win three individual NCAA event titles in one meet (2016 NCAA Outdoors), matching the legend Jesse Owens (1935-36) … Lawson went on to compete for the U.S. in the long jump at the Olympic Games … Six-time NCAA Champion (3 times long jump, 100m, 200m, 4x100m) … 19-time All-American 2016 SEC Male Athlete of the Year 2016 USTFCCA Men’s Track Athlete of the Year … NCAA Outdoor Championship Modern Day All-Time Points Leader (31.5) … NCAA Indoor All-Time Career Points Leader (Long Jump – 33) … Named SEC Indoor Field Athlete of the Year … SEC Champion in both the SEC Indoor and Outdoor Long Jump … Two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Selection and a two-time SEC … Academic Honor Roll Selection … Named the 2016 SEC Indoor and Outdoor Scholar-Athlete of the Year … CoSIDA Academic All-American … 2016 NCAA Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year.

Amanda Wellick, gymnastics
Three-time All-American … Qualified for NCAA Championship as an individual in 2015 and 2016… Selected to the All-SEC team in 2015 and 2016… Named SEC Freshman of the Year in 2014… Has won 29 career event titles … Led Arkansas with nine individual event titles and five all-around titles in 2016 …Named program’s most outstanding newcomer in 2014 and most outstanding gymnast in 2015 and 2016… Has earned a 3.58 cumulative GPA working toward a bachelor’s degree in marketing with minors in recreation and sport management and supply chain…Named to the AD honor roll four times … Selected to the SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll in 2014 and SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2015 and 2016 … Selected to the NACGC/W All-Scholar team in 2015 and 2016… Has been an active participant in multiple community service events, including the Miracle League and the Sweat Hogs program… Has also volunteered her time at the local animal shelter… Member of the athletic department’s leadership academy and member of SAAC since 2014.

Lexi Weeks, women’s track and field
Two-time NCAA Champion (pole vault) … Only freshman in NCAA history to win two national titles in the pole vault …Two-time First Team All-American … Competed for U.S. in the pole vault at the Olympic Games … American Junior record holder … NCAA Indoor meet record holder … Two-time NCAA South Central Field Athlete of the Year (Indoor and Outdoor) … Became first freshman in SEC history to win both indoor and outdoor pole vault titles … Helped the Razorbacks to an SEC triple crown and their first NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship … Two-time SEC Freshman Field Athlete of the Year (Indoor and Outdoor) … Two-time First-Team All-SEC (Indoor and Outdoor) … Only freshman in SEC history to win two conference titles in the pole vault … No. 3 best indoor and outdoor pole vaulter in NCAA history … No. 2 best indoor and outdoor pole vaulter in program history.