Student-Athlete Success Honored at the 2026 Stellas: A Celebration of Champions

4.28.26 | General

Temple Athletics celebrated the 23rd annual student-athlete Celebration of Champions on Tuesday night, honoring the excellent team and individual performances of the 2025-26 academic year. The 2026 Stellas honored over 400 student-athletes at the event, held at the Liacouras Center

The Stellas is one of the best nights of the year for Temple University Athletics. On this night we are able to recognize and celebrate the dedication and successes of our student-athletes in competition, in the classroom and in the community. We are all very proud of their hard work this academic year.

Vice President & Debbie and Stanley Lefkowitz '65 Director of Athletics Arthur Johnson

The Fitz Eugene Dixon Jr. Inspiration Award award was named for the late Fitz Dixon, Jr., who was a major Philadelphia benefactor and member of Temple’s Board of Trustees. He was owner and investor in Philly’s professional sports franchises, the Eagles, the Phillies, the Flyers, and the Wings, and his most notable sports investment, the Philadelphia 76ers.

“Pat” is a 1974 Fox School of Business alumnus and founder of CCI, which addresses compliance, regulatory, and audit issues for health care companies and professionals. He and his wife, Linda, are visible and long-time ticket holders for football and men’s and women’s basketball. Pat is a member of the Owl Club Executive Board, having served as its president, and was a member of the Temple University Alumni Association Parliament. Believing in the importance of athletics in the life of the university and in the development of students as individuals and citizens, Pat and Linda have paid it forward as longtime donors and advocates to Temple University athletics. Thank you, Pat and Linda, for your longtime generosity to Temple University.

The Athletic Director’s Honor Roll recognizes student-athletes who achieved a cumulative grade point average between 3.0 and 3.49, and this year, there are 143 student-athletes on that list.

The President’s Honor Roll recognizes student-athletes who have achieved a 3.5 cumulative GPA or greater, with 176 student-athletes on the list.

Chi Alpha Sigma, Temple’s Student Athlete Honor Society, recognizes undergraduate student-athletes who have demonstrated a strong commitment to academic success, athletic participation, and personal integrity. Students must have achieved junior or senior academic standing as recognized by Temple University and earn a 3.5 or higher cumulative grade point average

Each year, the Owl Award is presented to the team with the highest cumulative GPA. This year, the winner of the OWL is Women’s Tennis. As a team, they achieved a cumulative grade point average of 3.78.

The “Trustee Ten” recognizes the student-athletes with the ten highest, or in this year’s case 11, cumulative GPAs.
To be eligible, each recipient must:

• Have completed at least four full-time semesters
• Have earned a minimum of 60 credit hours at Temple
• Have participated on their athletic team for at least one year

The Newcomer of the Year award is designed to recognize outstanding athletic accomplishments for student-athletes in their initial campaign at Temple University.

The NovaCare Comeback of the Year award is given to a male and female student-athlete who have suffered a recent serious injury or illness and have made a tremendous impact on their team upon return for the current academic year.

The Mutombo Coffee Impact Award honors individuals within the Temple Athletics community who embody the spirit of Dikembe Mutombo—Philadelphia 76ers legend and global humanitarian. This prestigious award recognizes those who demonstrate exceptional commitment to social justice, community empowerment, and creating meaningful, lasting impact beyond sport.

During the offseason, the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association announced that Madison Moten, a senior defender, was selected as the 2025 recipient of the Tina Sloan Green Award. This prestigious honor recognizes individuals who promote a culture of equity and inclusion within athletics. A standout student-athlete and Sport and Recreation Management major, Moten balances excellence in the classroom while maintaining a 3.7 GPA and membership in the Chi (Ky) Alpha Sigma Honor Society. As Director of Community Outreach for Temple's Black Student-Athlete Association, she has spearheaded numerous initiatives that connect Temple Athletics with the surrounding North Philadelphia community, including Trunk or Treat, book drives, and holiday food and toy drives.

David Litvin will be graduating this spring with a degree in finance from the Fox School of Business. Litvin joined the Owls’ Cross Country team in 2023, where he competed in the Temple Invitational, Lehigh Paul Short Run, and the Pirates Invitational. The Bala Cynwyd, PA. native made the 2023-24 AAC All-Academic Team. He would go on to set a personal record in the 6K at the 2024 Temple Invitational with a time of 20:45.7. Litvin would compete in his first Conference Championships in 2024 and finished the 8K with a time of 27:10.5. Litvin would set more personal records in the 5.2 Mile and the 8K during his final campaign with the Owls. Throughout this year, David has been one of the student-athletes who hosts The Owl Pod, which is the official podcast of Temple Athletics. The weekly show features interviews with coaches, student-athletes, and alumni to discuss Temple sports, behind-the-scenes stories, and the “Temple Made” experience. Finally, he was also selected as the President for the 2025-26 Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). SAAC is committed to enhancing the student-athlete experience by ensuring honest representation of student-athletes and meaningful engagement. The committee promotes a positive image of Temple’s student-athletes and intercollegiate athletics across campus and throughout the Philadelphia region.

The Dr. Englert Award for Exploration, Growth and Development Award is earned by two student-athletes who have demonstrated exploration, growth, and development in the academic sphere.

Thamara is a senior civil engineering major who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to both her academic and athletic pursuits. Throughout her time at Temple, Thamara has not only excelled in the classroom but has also applied her civil engineering knowledge in meaningful, real-world ways that reflect both intellectual curiosity and a strong sense of purpose. Beyond her academic achievements, Thamara has emerged as a true leader within the Temple community. She has served as a two-year team captain for women’s tennis and as a representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, where she has been a voice for her peers. Thamara’s impact extends well beyond campus through her professional and service experiences. She interned with Turner Construction as a field engineer assistant, where she managed construction timelines, coordinated subcontractors, and contributed to on-site project execution through fieldwork and design revisions. In addition, she demonstrated entrepreneurial initiative by launching and operating her own cosmetic distribution business, negotiating with wholesalers, and delivering products directly to consumers. Her commitment to service is equally impressive—she worked with a humanitarian organization in Ecuador to design sustainable sanitation systems, including compost latrines and biodigesters, and contributed to local sustainability efforts in Philadelphia through the Philadelphia Orchard Project. Through her academic excellence, leadership, professional accomplishments, and commitment to community impact, Thamara truly embodies the spirit of exploration and growth.

Eve Keesecker started her career in Temple Athletics with a splash. Joining the Women’s Rowing team as a novice coxswain, Eve’s impact was felt immediately as she coxed her boat to a gold medal finish in the 2023 Dad Vail Regatta. But that was only the beginning. In the spirit of exploration and engagement, Eve decided to double major in Journalism and English. Equipped with the skills obtained in these classes, Eve has delved and dabbled in a myriad of jobs, organizations, and clubs. She lends her writing and editing talents to the Templar Yearbook staff, serves an executive board member of the Lunar Journal Literary Magazine, and wrote for the WXPN Morning News in the summer of 2024. She has continued to foster her organizational and leadership talents to better Temple University as an intern in the Division of Student Affairs and served her local community as a Research and Communications Fellow for Virginia House of Delegates from the 55th district member, Amy Laufer. Through all of this, Eve has been an exemplary teammate and earned the position of co-captain on her team for the 2025-2026 season.

Stanley Merves Leadership Academy honors a group of student-athlete leaders among a competitive pool of applicants. These students have the unique opportunity to develop their leadership skills together - using a combination of hands-on learning experiences, community partners, and interactive workshops designed to be both educational and engaging. This group will develop skill sets to be effective leaders in their sport, community, and careers.

The Temple Tuff Award is presented to a student-athlete from each team, nominated by their teammates. This individual exemplifies true grit, with character that sets them apart and earns the respect of those around them. They embody perseverance as a Temple student-athlete and consistently help keep their team motivated while upholding the program’s core values.

The JoAnne Epps Scholar-Athlete of Year Award is awarded annually to individuals who have fully submersed themselves academically and chosen to challenge themselves by engaging with their respective academic disciplines.

BEST TEAM PERFORMANCE

Best Female Performance

Best Male Performance

The Coach of the Year Award is presented to the head coach who exemplifies pride, leadership, and accomplishment on and off the field. The award was voted on by Temple Athletics staff.

Named in honor of Russell Conwell - visionary leader, community builder, and founder of Temple University - the Russell Conwell Award recognizes individuals who embody his legacy through outstanding leadership, unwavering dedication to the community, and an extraordinary ability to bring people together. Recipients of the Russell Conwell Award are those who lead with purpose, inspire collective action, and foster inclusive spaces where collaboration and compassion thrive. Through their efforts, they strengthen the bonds of community and create meaningful change that uplifts and unites. This award celebrates those who not only envision a better future but actively build it - together with others.

The Athletic Performance of the Year Award is designed to recognize outstanding athletic accomplishments for student-athletes who have achieved at the highest level in college athletics.