IU Northwest rolls out the red carpet for student-athlete at fourth annual Champions and Leadership awards

The Indiana University Northwest RedHawks were joined by friends, family, and faculty on April 23 to celebrate athletic and scholastic excellence at the fourth annual Champions and Leadership Awards event. The event, hosted at IU Northwest’s Arts & Sciences Building, recognized student-athletes’ success as well as the coaches and mentors who help students perform both in the classroom and on the playing field.

“We get all of our student-athletes together at the beginning of the year. Everyone’s got different seasons, different schedules, and they’re all out there doing their thing and working extremely hard. This is an opportunity to get them all back together one more time, to thank them for the how they represent our campus and our athletic department, acknowledge not just the hard work but all of their success, and bring them all back together for an opportunity to celebrate and do it in a way that’s really fun for them. It’s an event that we look forward to every year,” IU Northwest Director of Athletics Ryan Shelton said.

Students and faculty dressed to impress as they strutted down the red carpet before taking their seats. The Champions and Leadership Awards have become a RedHawk tradition over the years, with many looking forward not only to celebrating each others’ successes but also the theatricality surrounding the event.

Several athletes went home with awards. Emma Schmidt, a member of the women’s basketball team, took home the Erica Baran Leadership Award, which honors those showing the same heart and determination as the former Lady RedHawk.

“It is truly an honor to receive this award. I am very grateful to be recognized alongside so many talented student-athletes, and it means a lot to know that hard work, leadership, and character are valued both on and off the court. I’m thankful for my teammates, coaches, family, and everyone who has supported me throughout my journey,” Schmidt said.

Ladaion Barnes and Trinitie Lintner were named Male Athlete of the Year and Female Athlete of the year, respectively, while Kendal Carrubba was awarded the Darrius Davis Career Achievement Award. All three have put in incredible work during their time at IU Northwest academically and athletically.

“It feels great; it was well-deserved. I have to highlight my teammates. I put in a lot of work over the off season – we knew we were going to have a big year, and it was really, really nice to enjoy that with them and see everything we accomplished,” Barnes said.

“It feels really special to win an award like this,” Carrubba said. “It means a lot to be recognized not just for performance but for leadership and the way I carried myself throughout my time here. I’ve put a lot into both athletics and academics throughout my college career, so this is a moment I’m really proud of, and it’s a great way to go out as a senior. I’m especially grateful for my coach, Jamie McNicholas, all of my teammates, and everyone who has supported me throughout my journey as a student-athlete.”

The accolades weren’t limited to the student-athletes either. Jamie McNicholas, the IU Northwest women’s soccer coach, was recognized as Coach of the Year following an incredible season in 2025-26. Coaches play an integral role in shaping students as athletes and people, something Jamie McNicholas does not take lightly.

“We have a lot of contact time with the athletes. We spend all day in our office, and we have student-athletes that swing by all the time. I think we play a big part in their lives in general, not just on the field or on the court, whatever that may be. Being that extra person for them to ask questions, to be a support for – I think that’s the main thing that we provide,” McNicholas said.

As the RedHawks close the door on their 2025-26 season, many are already looking forward to next year’s successes.

“The rise of our women’s soccer is something to be really excited about, and we fully expected our basketball programs to be right back on track. We have some really talented coaches, they’re working really hard, and there’s a lot to be excited about,” Shelton said. “Being a student-athlete’s a very difficult thing to do in terms of the commitment, so to have an event like this where they get to celebrate the friendships and the camaraderie and the things that they’ve done this year makes it really worth it for us.”

Visit iunredhawks.com for more on the Indiana University Northwest RedHawks, including game schedules and upcoming events like the upcoming RedHawk Golf Classic.

Learn more about IU Northwest at northwest.iu.edu.