GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Seven Furman student-athletes have been recognized for exemplary leadership by the Shucker Leadership Institute, the university has announced.

Cameron Ponder (men's cross country/track), Camryn Bolick (women's soccer), Sophie Shaw (women's lacrosse), Sara Snyder (women's tennis), Christian Newman (men's soccer), Denison Jones (men's soccer), and Bryce Stanfield (football) comprised the contingent of Paladin student-athletes honored for leadership.  

Members of the Purple Diamonds support group were also recognized as the recipient of the Boundary Breaker Program of the Year Award.

Ponder and Bolick were accorded the C. Dan Joyner Athletic Leader Award, named in honor and memory of the exemplary Greenville community leader known affectionately to the Furman community as "Furman's Biggest Fan" because of his unwavering support of Furman Athletics.  

A senior standout in cross country and track from Winston-Salem, N.C., Ponder was honored as 2022 SoCon Male Athlete of the Year after winning the Furman Male Athlete of the Year award for the second-consecutive year.  One of the most decorated athletes in the history of the program, he earned indoor track All-America citations in the 3,000m in 2021 and 2022 and an outdoor track All-American honor in the 3,000m Steeplechase in 2023, all while leading Furman to six-straight SoCon cross country titles during his time as a Paladin.  Ponder is a member of the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team and volunteers with the Greenville Children's Hospital's Valiant Player organization.

Bolick recently completed her fourth season as a starter for the women's soccer program. The senior from Asheville, N.C., made 19 appearances and earned 18 starts this past season. She netted a goal versus USC Upstate and added assists versus Chattanooga and VMI. A health sciences major, she boasts a 3.65 GPA and was named to the Southern Conference All-Tournament Team and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District.

Shaw, a senior attack on the women's lacrosse team, was recognized with Furman's Unsung Hero Award for her work and commitment behind the scenes in enhancing Furman campus life.  She currently ranks second on the squad in scoring with 39 points on 25 goals and 14 assists, placing her among the leaders in the Big South Conference in both categories.  Named conference offensive player of the week on Feb. 27, the Granville, Ohio, native is closing in on 100 goals in her career and earlier this season set a new career high with four assists in the Paladins' 19-15 win over Kennesaw State.

The recipient of the Winston Babb Memorial Award, given in honor of the late history professor by Furman's chapter of Omnicron Delta Kappa to the student in each class demonstrating the most outstanding qualities of leadership, scholarship, and service to the university through academics and research, communications, or athletics, was Snyder.  A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, she has helped the Paladin women's tennis team to a pair of SoCon regular season titles and one league tournament championship over the past two seasons.  During her career, she has earned All-SoCon citations in both singles and doubles and has ranked as high as 51st nationally in doubles.  She is a member of the SoCon Academic All-Conference Team, the CSC Academic All-District Team, and the ITA All-Academic Team.

Paladin men's soccer players Christian Newman and Denison Jones took home Furman Hall of Leaders and American Legion Awards, respectively.  

The Hall of Leaders is a select group of seniors who have demonstrated outstanding involvement with campus life and extracurricular activities and who, through their service, have exemplified a four-year commitment of the enhancement of the Furman campus.

The American Legion Award recognizes seniors who represent the highest qualities of honor, courage, scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

Newman played in 11 matches this past season and registered one start. The Myrtle Beach, S.C., native helped the Paladins to a 10-6-3 record as a senior and notched an assist in Furman's 1-1 draw versus College of Charleston. He is a health sciences major and sports a 3.61 GPA.

A member of Furman's ROTC, Jones, a senior from Greenville, played in 13 matches as a defender for the Paladins this past season and made two starts.  He carries a 3.33 GPA and is majoring in business administration.

Represented by his parents, Teri and Fred Stanfield, Bryce Stanfield, who passed away suddenly on Feb. 9, was honored with the President's Award, which is presented to two students who, by general conduct and relationships with others, have exhibited high aspirations and noble humanitarian qualities of character in all areas of campus life: academic, social, religious, and athletic.

A defensive tackle and three-year letterman on the Paladins' football team, he saw action in all 13 games this past fall, totaling 13 tackles, including four tackles for-loss and 2.5 sacks, in the Paladins' 10-3, Southern Conference championship campaign.

In addition to his football contribution, he served in Furman's Heller Service Corps Men of Distinction and was an active participant in visiting patients at Greenville Children's Hospital and in reading to children in local schools.

He was two-time SoCon Academic Honor Roll selection and was named to both the 2023 SoCon Fall All-Academic Team and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District squad.

Prior to passing away, Stanfield, from Acworth, Ga., was conferred his Bachelor of Science degree in health sciences, magna cum laude, by Furman President Dr. Elizabeth Davis in ceremonies surrounded by family and Paladin football teammates and coaches.