CANYON, Texas – West Texas A&M Athletics announced on Friday afternoon that seniors Chazz Slatinsky and Marlene van Mourik are this year's recipients of the prestigious President's Award. 
 
Slatinsky is the sixth football player to earn the honor joining Dillon Vaughan, Dustin Vaughan, Aaron Mullane, Keith Null and Derek Maupin. He is the first defensive player to earn the honors after appearing in 38 games during his career in Canyon.
 
"Chazz is more than deserving of the President's Award for the 2019-2020 academic year. He has been a leader on and off the field for the football team; his dedication to the sport of football, and the team has been relentless throughout his career," head football coach Hunter Hughes said. "But it is his dedication to serve others, and his willingness to serve the Panhandle community, that set him apart from the ordinary student athlete. It has been an honor to coach Chazz the past three years. Chazz will no doubt go on to do great things and represent West Texas A&M University throughout his life.'
 
The Forney native was a key part of a Buffs team that finished 8-3 in 2019 recording 55 tackles (30 solo, 25 assists), 2.0 tackles for loss, six pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble. He recorded a season-high 16 tackles in WT's homecoming victory over Central Washington. He also sealed the Buffs comeback victory over Texas A&M-Kingsville for the second straight year with an interception in the end zone in the final minutes.
 
He started in nine games as a junior in 2017 before suffering a season ending injury that would force him to redshirt the 2018 season. He earned Lone Star Conference Honorable Mention honors a sophomore in 2016 after recording 52 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. He was also named the LSC Defensive Player of the Week as a freshman after his 13-tackle performance against Eastern New Mexico in the Wagon Wheel Game. 
 
Slatinsky was also named to the Inaugural All-Athletic Performance team in April. He also served as the President of FCA while volunteering with Hughes' Heroes, Habitat for Humanity and Special Olympics. 
 
van Mourik becomes the second consecutive women's soccer player to earn the award and fourth overall. The Hovborg, Denmark native appeared in 73 games with 55 starts during her four-year career helping the Lady Buffs to three LSC Championships and a South Central Regional title in 2018. 
 
"Congrats to Marlene on winning this award. I can't think of a more deserving student-athlete at WT," head women's soccer coach Chad Webb said. "She played all over the field for us during her career at WT while helping us win multiple conference championships and a regional title. She was also a great example off the field as she was a great student and was also serving those around her."
 
She recorded 14 assists, the 8th most assists in program history, while also scoring 15 goals for 44 points. Her 152 shots are the 6th most in Lady Buff history while also converting four penalty kicks. As a freshman, she earned Second Team All-LSC honors after scoring a team-high seven goals and 17 points helping the Lady Buffs clinch a share of the LSC Regular Season title. She earned all-region recognition as a sophomore after making 19 starts scoring four goals along with a team-high seven assists. During her final season in Canyon in 2019, she scored a goal in four consecutive games includes the game-winner against St. Mary's on Oct. 25.
 
Along with earning Google Cloud Academic All-District honors in 2018, van Mourik was named to the LSC All-Academic team three times. She also served as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President and as a Rogers LEAD Scholar. 
 
President's Award Winners
Year         Male                                                          Female
2020        Chazz Slatinsky (Football)                         Marlene van Mourik (Soccer)
2019         Tag Baxter (Baseball)                                Khadidra Debesette (Soccer)
2018         Dillon Vaughan (Football)                          Madison Parker (Basketball)
2017         Justin McAllister (Baseball)                        Shanice Cameron (Track & Field)
2016         Alexander Korn (Track & Field)                 Bri Leeper (Track & Field)
2015         Michael Williams (Soccer)                          Emma Love (Cross Country)
                                                                                   Chontiquah White (Basketball)
2014         Dustin Vaughan (Football)                         Alyssa Lemos (Softball)
2013         Aaron Mullane (Football)                           Meghan Slattery (Softball)
2012         Dane Harmick (Track & Field)                    Kim LeComte (Softball)
2011          Shane Taylor (Soccer)                               Lauren Thedford (Volleyball)
2010         Jacob Jensen (Soccer)                              Holly Isaacs (Basketball)
2009        Keith Null (Football)                                   Emily Brister (Basketball)
2008        Tyler Cooper (Basketball)                          Whitney Agee (Equestrian)6
                                                                                   Jisel Bailon (Cross Country)
2007        A.J. Knight (Basketball)                              Rachel Altman (Volleyball)
                                                                                   Sarit Shenar (Soccer)
2006        Steven Jackson (Basketball)                     Katherine Henley (Soccer)
2005        Derek Maupin (Football)                            Mallory Vestal (Equestrian)