Join us at the 2026 Golden Pick Awards on May 4th at 7pm in the Don Haskins Center to celebrate the success of the 300+ UTEP student-athletes and coaches. Live interviews of winners will take place.
See below for important details:
- Attire: Semi-formal or business casual (polo and jeans are acceptable)
- Event location: Don Haskins Center
- Doors open, food opens, and photo booths open at 6pm
- Event starts at 7pm
- Food Served: Cheeseburger Sliders, Chicken Empanadas, Fried Ravioli
- Photo booths will be available
Master of Ceremonies: Jon Teicher, alongside guest presenters
Awards Presented at the Golden Pick Awards:
Most Valuable Performer: Presented to one student-athlete on each team that has most contributed most to the team's competitive success. Voted by: Respective team's coaching staff.
Student Worker of the Year: Presented to multiple student workers (interns or undergraduate student workers) that has most contributed to the Athletics department success. Voted by: Athletics Staff Members.
Athlete of the Year: Presented to one student-athlete from a men's and women's team that contributed most to the team's competitive success. Nominated by head coaches. Voted on by SAAC.
Kenny Odom (Football), 2025 Athlete of the Year. Not pictured Niesha Burgher (Track). Kenny earned 2024 All-CUSA second team honors after leading the Miners in nearly every major receiving category. He totaled 741 receiving yards (8th CUSA), averaged 16.11 yards per catch (6th CUSA, 66th NCAA), and hauled in eight touchdown receptions (2nd CUSA, 36th NCAA). He also topped the squad in yards per game (61.75 – 6th CUSA) and recorded the team’s longest reception of the year at 76 yards. Playing in all 12 games, he became the first Miner since 2010 to register three touchdown catches in a single game, doing so in a career-best eight-catch, 108-yard performance vs. Kennesaw State. He added a career-high 128 yards and two touchdowns at Colorado State and found the end zone again on a 76-yard bomb at WKU.
Newcomer of the Year: Presented to one student-athlete from a men's and women's team that made a tremendous impact in their first year with the program. Nominated by head coaches. Voted on by SAAC.
Carlee Valenta (Rifle), 2025 Newcomer of the Year. Not pictured Alexandre Godin (Men's Golf). Carlee made history as the first Miner to qualify for the NCAA Championships in air rifle since 2012, finishing 17th overall. She set school records in both air rifle (599) and aggregate score (1181) during the NCAA Qualifier against Alaska Fairbanks, helping UTEP reach as high as No. 14 in the national rankings. Carlee led the team with season-best averages of 594 in air rifle and 1173 in aggregate, topping team scoring in air rifle 12 times and surpassing the 590 mark in all but one match.
Best Comeback: Presented to a team or individual that overcame adversity over the course of the season (i.e. comeback win or student-athlete who excelled after coming back from injury). Nominated by head coaches. Voted on by SAAC.
Marissa Simpson (Track), 2025 Best Comeback. After an injury cut her indoor season short, Marissa roared back to win her third straight CUSA title in the 60m hurdles and earn Second-Team All-American honors at the NCAA Indoor Championships. She also scored in two additional events at conference.
Moment of the Year: Can be presented to either a team or individual in recognition of a groundbreaking achievement during the UTEP Athletics year. Nominated by head coaches. Voted on by SAAC.
Indoor Volleyball, 2025 Moment of the Year: Posted a 27-6 record and a program-best No. 34 RPI to earn an at-large bid to the 2024 NCAA Tournament — the first in program history. UTEP was also the nation’s first team to 20 wins.
Team GPA: Presented to the team with the highest GPA for the calendar year
Rifle, 2025 Team GPA Winner. Compiled a 3.81 GPA.
Team Community Service Award: Presented to the team that engaged in the most community service hours per student-athlete in the academic year.
Beach Volleyball, 2025 Team Community Service Winner. Completed 255 community service hours.
Team of the Year: Presented to the team that enjoyed the most competitive success during the athletic year. Nominated by head coaches. Voted on by SAAC.
Indoor Volleyball, 2025 Team of the Year. UTEP finished 27-6 and made its first NCAA Tournament appearance, nearly upsetting Oklahoma in a five-set thriller. The Miners were the fastest team in the nation to 20 wins and earned a league-best eight postseason honors, including Defensive Player of the Year and All-American Kaya Weaver.
Coach of the Year: Presented to the coach whose team enjoyed the most competitive success, or whose team exceeded preseason expectations the most, during the athletic year. Nominated by head coaches. Voted on by SAAC.
2025 Winner, Coach Ben Wallis. Coach Wallis directed the Miners to a dazzling record of 27-6 and their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament after UTEP received an at-large bid. The Miners pushed SEC member Oklahoma to the brink before falling, 3-2, in five sets. UTEP earned a CUSA-best eight postseason awards, including Kaya Weaver being named the CUSA Defensive Player of the Year (program’s first CUSA superlative honoree). The Miners had two All-CUSA first-team honorees, three on the second team and a pair of All-Freshman recipients. Weaver also went on to secure All-Region and All-America accolades. UTEP became the fastest team in the country to reach 20 wins and achieved a program-best RPI of 34 along the way.
Jon Dorenbos Lifetime Achievement Award: Presented to a former, graduated UTEP student-athlete that has made a tremendous impact on their community and excelled in their collegiate and professional careers while serving as a positive role model and example for current student-athletes. Chosen by Miner Athletic Club.
Austin Keith, 2025 Jon Dorenbos Lifetime Achievement Award. Austin Keith is a proud UTEP alumnus and former athletic training scholarship recipient who has dedicated his life to leadership, service, and excellence in business and in the community. After graduating in 1977, Austin built a successful career in the beverage industry, eventually becoming co-owner of Pinkie’s, Inc. Beyond his professional success, he has devoted decades to civic leadership across West Texas, earning numerous honors for his integrity, community service, and commitment to making a difference. His journey reflects the spirit of perseverance, achievement, and service that defines the Jon Dorenbos Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dr. Louis Robbins Award for Academic Excellence: Presented to an undergraduate senior student-athlete (graduating this academic year) from one men's team and one women's team with the best cumulative GPA in a competitive major (eligibility not a factor). Chosen by Athletic Administrators.