Ray, Barry Named Inaugural Pillar of Purple Award Recipients
4/9/2019 4:34:00 PM | General, Women's Basketball, Swimming and Diving
FORT WORTH, Texas – TCU student-athletes Kianna Ray (women's basketball) and Brendan Barry (men's swimming) have been named the inaugural recipients of the Pillar of Purple Award, as announced by the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee.
The award is presented to one male and one female TCU student-athlete and honors their academic achievements, athletic excellence, community service and leadership. To be eligible, nominees must have junior or senior academic standing and have earned a varsity letter in their respective sport.
The selections are made by the IAC which is comprised of faculty, staff and students representing the university community.
"Many times in popular culture people tend to concentrate only on the outcomes and not on the process," TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. said. "I am so glad this award recognizes two of our outstanding student-athletes not only for their many successes; but also for all their hard work along the way."
A junior guard for the women's basketball team, Ray helped lead the Frogs to a 24-11 overall record this season, the second-most wins in a season in program history. The Austin, Texas, native averaged 10.2 points, 4.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds while starting all 35 games as TCU advanced to the WNIT semifinals for the second consecutive season.
Ray, a strategic communications major, earned Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors earlier this season. She has made a strong impression on her professors, including one who noted in her letter of recommendation for the award that she has "demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence" and "exemplifies critical thinking skills."
In addition to her work on the court and in the classroom, Ray has also been a valuable asset to the Fort Worth community, working with the Alliance for Children, helping to serve lunch for the homeless and volunteering with such organizations as the Lena Pope Home, the Ronald McDonald House, the Stayton senior center and at Cook Children's Hospital.
Barry was a two-time All-Big 12 Second Team recipient for the TCU swimming and diving program. He finished fifth in the men's 200-yard backstroke at the 2019 Big 12 Championships and sixth in the 1650-yard freestyle in 2017.
A member of TCU's men's 800-freestyle relay that broke the school record at the 2019 Big 12 Championships, Barry was also a leader on the men's team that finished third at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship meet. The San Diego, Calif., native finished his collegiate career among the top-five in school history in several events.
A supply and value chain management major, Barry was tabbed to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team earlier this year. He has also displayed a willingness to serve, working with the St. James Community Outreach program, in addition to distributing food and clothes to migrant families as part of a program through the Coachella Valley School District.
Barry's professors offered up great praise on him in their letters of recommendation as well, including one who noted that he "has shown more initiative than any of my students in the past several years."
ABOUT THE PILLAR OF PURPLE AWARD
This is the inaugural Pillar of Purple Award which will be presented to a male and a female member of a TCU athletic team. The award honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of college athletes from all sports at TCU. To be eligible, nominees must have competed and earned a varsity letter in a TCU sponsored sport.
It is expected that student-athletes selected for the Pillar of Purple Award will exemplify high standards of citizenship, character and courage. This is an award that recognizes the totality of the student-athlete's commitment to excellence. The committee takes the collection of all criteria into consideration in making a decision.
The awardees will receive a plaque or other suitable acknowledgment to be determined by the IAC, be recognized at the annual spring athletic banquet and have their accomplishments noted in an appropriate location in the TCU Library.
For more information about the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee and the Pillar of Purple Award, visit https://fsn.tcu.edu/committees/intercollegiate-athletic-committee/.
The award is presented to one male and one female TCU student-athlete and honors their academic achievements, athletic excellence, community service and leadership. To be eligible, nominees must have junior or senior academic standing and have earned a varsity letter in their respective sport.
The selections are made by the IAC which is comprised of faculty, staff and students representing the university community.
"Many times in popular culture people tend to concentrate only on the outcomes and not on the process," TCU Chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr. said. "I am so glad this award recognizes two of our outstanding student-athletes not only for their many successes; but also for all their hard work along the way."
A junior guard for the women's basketball team, Ray helped lead the Frogs to a 24-11 overall record this season, the second-most wins in a season in program history. The Austin, Texas, native averaged 10.2 points, 4.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds while starting all 35 games as TCU advanced to the WNIT semifinals for the second consecutive season.
Ray, a strategic communications major, earned Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors earlier this season. She has made a strong impression on her professors, including one who noted in her letter of recommendation for the award that she has "demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence" and "exemplifies critical thinking skills."
In addition to her work on the court and in the classroom, Ray has also been a valuable asset to the Fort Worth community, working with the Alliance for Children, helping to serve lunch for the homeless and volunteering with such organizations as the Lena Pope Home, the Ronald McDonald House, the Stayton senior center and at Cook Children's Hospital.
Barry was a two-time All-Big 12 Second Team recipient for the TCU swimming and diving program. He finished fifth in the men's 200-yard backstroke at the 2019 Big 12 Championships and sixth in the 1650-yard freestyle in 2017.
A member of TCU's men's 800-freestyle relay that broke the school record at the 2019 Big 12 Championships, Barry was also a leader on the men's team that finished third at the CSCAA National Invitational Championship meet. The San Diego, Calif., native finished his collegiate career among the top-five in school history in several events.
A supply and value chain management major, Barry was tabbed to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team earlier this year. He has also displayed a willingness to serve, working with the St. James Community Outreach program, in addition to distributing food and clothes to migrant families as part of a program through the Coachella Valley School District.
Barry's professors offered up great praise on him in their letters of recommendation as well, including one who noted that he "has shown more initiative than any of my students in the past several years."
ABOUT THE PILLAR OF PURPLE AWARD
This is the inaugural Pillar of Purple Award which will be presented to a male and a female member of a TCU athletic team. The award honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of college athletes from all sports at TCU. To be eligible, nominees must have competed and earned a varsity letter in a TCU sponsored sport.
It is expected that student-athletes selected for the Pillar of Purple Award will exemplify high standards of citizenship, character and courage. This is an award that recognizes the totality of the student-athlete's commitment to excellence. The committee takes the collection of all criteria into consideration in making a decision.
The awardees will receive a plaque or other suitable acknowledgment to be determined by the IAC, be recognized at the annual spring athletic banquet and have their accomplishments noted in an appropriate location in the TCU Library.
For more information about the Intercollegiate Athletic Committee and the Pillar of Purple Award, visit https://fsn.tcu.edu/committees/intercollegiate-athletic-committee/.
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