PHILADELPHIA - Four University of Pennsylvania student-athletes have been honored with PNC Student-Athlete Achiever awards for the 2019-20 academic year.
 
Penn's fall-term honorees were senior football player Hunter Hayes and senior gymnast Kellie Flavin. They were presented with their awards during the Penn-Cornell football game on November 9 by Penn's T. Gibbs Kane Junior Director of Athletics and Recreation, Dr. M. Grace Calhoun, as well as Stephen Carangelo, Corporate and Institutional Banking Associate for PNC Bank.
 
Penn's spring-term honorees were senior sprint football standout Eddie Jenkins and senior women's track & field star Nia Akins. They were recognized for their achievement on the field, in the classroom, and within the broader community during the Penn-Yale men's basketball game on February 15 by Dr. Calhoun as well as Grace Anselmo, Relationship Manager for PNC Public Finance.
 
FALL-TERM HONOREES
 
Hunter Hayes: Hunter's leadership and dedication to Penn football has made him an excellent ambassador for the program. He consistently acts in the best interest of his team and coaches, switching from defense to offense in the middle of his career and making heavy contributions on special teams. Off the field, Hunter's passion for the medical field has inspired much of his volunteer work. He currently serves as the Penn football chapter President for Uplifting Athletes, an organization dedicated to raising awareness for rare diseases. Hunter has also volunteered with the University City Hospitality Coalition (UCHC) Clinic, administering vitamins and hygiene products to the homeless community. He has also worked as a research assistant at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, researching life-saving treatments for patients through genome experiments. Hunter will graduate in the spring with a degree in Biological Basis of Behavior with plans to attend medical school.
 
Kellie Flavin: Kellie exemplifies selflessness, leadership and Penn pride through her tireless work ethic and positive attitude. She consistently inspires her teammates to be the best versions of themselves—as gymnasts, students, and people. Kellie excels in the classroom, as she was named ECAC All-Academic and Academic All-American by the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association for three straight years. In addition, Kellie has used her sport and study to fuel her passion for helping others by mentoring elementary-school children through Classroom Champions and tutoring fellow student-athletes. She also sits on the executive board of the Student-Athlete Wellness and Health Officers group and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. As a nursing student, Kellie worked on the M-S care team at the Perelman Center's Department of Neurology, participated in a fellowship focused on pediatric oncology research, and is an active member of Student Nurses at Penn. Kellie will graduate in May with a degree in Nursing.
 
SPRING-TERM HONOREES
 
Eddie Jenkins: As a captain and starting quarterback, Eddie's natural leadership skills and strong work ethic were a driving force behind the team's success this season. Starting all seven games during the 2019 season, he led the league in four statistical categories and was voted by the coaches as the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) Player of the Year and First-Team All-CSFL. His accomplishments on the field also earned him the Schmucker Most Valuable Player award, an honor voted on by his teammates. Off the field, Eddie's positive influence translates heavily to the community. In partnership with the Philadelphia School District and Classroom Champions program, he mentors elementary-school students within the Philadelphia School District. Eddie is also a camp counselor for Camp Kesem, a summer program for young kids whose parents or family members have been affected by cancer. Eddie will graduate in May with a bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
Nia Akins: While continuously displaying record-breaking performances, Nia is one of the most decorated track athletes in Penn and Ivy League history. As a captain, she has helped lead her team to a total of six Ivy League Heptagonal championships, as well as Penn and the Ivy League's first Distance Medley Relay championship at the 2019 Penn Relays. She is also a two-time NCAA runner-up in the indoor and outdoor 800 meters, and recently ran the second-fastest 800 ever by a collegian (2:00.71 on February 14). Beyond the track, Nia is dedicated to making an impact in the greater Penn community. As a nursing student, she is an active member of Student Nurses at Penn while also researching the environmental effects on nutrition, brain health, and behavior through the Perelman School of Medicine's STEER program. In the community, Nia works closely with Young Quakers Community Athletics, a program dedicated to providing after-school athletic programs to students within Penn's partnership schools. After graduating in May, Nia hopes to run professionally while continuing to pursue a career in nursing.