Bolivar, Mo. – SBU athletics department announces Cooper Callis and Brocklyn Barber as this years' Rex Brown award winners as announced at the Purple Carpet Premiere on Tuesday.
 
This annual award is the highest honor given by the SBU athletics department. Each year it is awarded to one female and one male senior student-athlete who has strong Christian character, academic achievement, leadership qualities, and has impacted their sport. The award is named in honor of Dr. Rex Brown, a former longtime SBU Athletic Director and SBU baseball coach.
 
The female recipient, Brocklyn Barber, just finished her fourth season as a member of the Bearcat cross country and track team. This season she was a 1^st team All-GLVC member taking 7^th place at the GLVC cross country championship. Barber was a member of the 2020 conference championship team and has been a 3x All-GLVC track award winner. She was a team leader and led team bible studies each week while volunteering at FBC on Wednesday night with the children's ministry.
 
The male recipient, Cooper Callis, finished his third season as a member of the Bearcat football team. He was a 2x GLVC offensive player of the year and became the first ever SBU bearcat to win the GLVC scholar athlete award. Despite only three years as a part of the program, he holds career records in pass completion % and yards per game. He is graduating with his master's in business administration next week with a 3.9 GPA. Callis exemplified his Christian character both on and off the field with his leadership.