VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUVikings.com)- The Valley City State University athletic department held its annual Viking Awards Banquet on Monday night, honoring its 35 seniors and many more standout student-athletes from the 2017-18 school year.

Athletic director Jill DeVries emceed the evening at the Valley City Eagles Club as VCSU recognized excellence in competition and the classroom, named department-wide award winners, and honored achievements from the previous season.

VCSU recognized its 14 NSAA Champions of Character winners from the 2017-18 season, along with a school-record 40 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes and 25 student-athletes who set new school records in competition this season.

Paige Meyer (senior, women’s basketball) and Lenzel Koskela (senior, track and field) were named winners of the Viking Impact Award, which recognizes student-athletes who have had major impacts on campus as well as on their teams.

Senior Lexi Lennon (women’s basketball) was named Female Athlete of the Year for the second straight season. Senior Jayden Ferguson(men’s basketball) was announced as the Male Athlete of the Year. Ferguson was also the recipient of the Golden Crutch Award, which was chosen by the VCSU athletic training staff and student trainers.

The 2017-18 Newcomer of the Year awards went to junior Kate Williams (women’s basketball) and redshirt freshman Jalen Pfeifer (football).

Karl Sorby, who is in his second year as the men’s basketball assistant coach, was honored as the Assistant Coach of the Year.

The VCSU Century Club also recognized its 2018 Fans of the Year, Dave Zeller and Connie Maresh.

WATCH: 2017-18 Highlight Video