Soccer's Bobby Smith Takes Top BU Award

WMBD/WYZZ-TV - PEORIA, Ill. -- For the first time since 2007 and just the fourth time in the 62-year history of the award, a soccer player is the winner of Bradley University's most prestigious athletic department award.

Bobby Smith was given the recipient of the 2012 Charles Orsborn Award at the Bradley Senior Send-Off Monday night at Renaissance Coliseum. The award, named after the former Bradley basketball coach and athletic director, is presented annually to the senior Bradley University student-athlete who best combines athletic and academic success with community service.

"Obviously, you want to strive to be a well-rounded person, no matter what you're doing. Any time you get recognized for things outside of athletics that's icing on the cake," said Smith. "More than anything, it's humbling to be put into a category with the past finalists and winner. Unbelievable people that have gone onto accomplish great things. It's really nice."

A four-year starter BU soccer team, Smith helped the Braves to the 2010 State Farm MVC Tournament title and consecutive trips to the NCAA Tournament (2010, 2011) for the first time in program history.He was a 2011 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award All-American and a first-team 2011 Capital One Academic All-American.

Boasting a 3.94 cumulative grade point average in Bradley's five-year Accounting 3:2 program, which awards both a bachelor's degree and master's degree upon completion, Smith will graduate in just four years next month.