Bryan College Men's Basketball's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, Brandon "Bubby" Cole, and Bryan Women's Soccer standout, Jennifer Fortmiller (NA) (SR/Hixson, Tenn.), were the recipients of the 2016 Lion of Valor Award announced by Athletic Director, Taylor Hasty, in Honor's Day Chapel earlier last week.
The award is the highest honor given by the department. This award is given to the top senior male and female athletes at Bryan College. The Department of Athletics staff chooses the recipients.
Consideration is given to those student-athletes who have made a significant contribution to the success of the team and model the character qualities of Christ on and off the field of play - who possess an unwavering commitment to "fight the good fight" of faith with the tenacity, might, and valor of the Lion of Judah.
Fortmiller finished up her fourth season this year with the Lady Lions Soccer Program and is graduating with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Health Science. Her success has been prevalent in the classroom as she was named a 2015 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete, meaning that she has maintained a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. She has also been a regular member on the annual All-Academic Team as she has met the criteria of a 3.25 or higher GPA.
On the pitch, Fortmiller netted three career goals and two assists as she battled injuries over the last two years, which held her to participating in only three matches for the 2015 season. Despite the injuries, she has played a significant role on the team by continuously contributing her leadership skills and overwhelming heart to serve.
A senior majoring in exercise health science from Crossville, Tennessee, Cole boasts of not only carrying a 3.83 G.P.A., but also having become Bryan's all-time leading scorer and rebounder. Cole produced 2,799 points, 1,235 rebounds, 110 assists, and 142 steals during his career.
As a senior, Cole has raked in first-team All-Appalachian Athletic Conference, conference Champions of Character team, Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week, and made the top 100-watch list for the Clarence "Bevo" Francis Award, which goes to the Small College Basketball player of the year. His 29.1 points per game tops NAIA Division II, while his 10.9 rebounding average ranks fifth nationally.
During his college career, Cole has been three-time first-team All-AAC, 10-time conference player of the week, conference freshman of the year, honorable-mention NAIA Division II All-American as a sophomore and league player of the year and third-team All-American as a junior. In 2014-15, Cole led NAIA Division II with 29.1 points and 11.3 rebounds a contest.
His efforts earned him the prestigious honor of the 2015-16 CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for men's basketball in the College Division. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® College Division basketball teams include student-athletes from NAIA, Canadian, and two-year institutions