2010-11 Individual Accomplishments

Big Ten Medal of Honor Recipients

Awarded annually at each conference school to a male and female senior student-athlete who demonstrates proficiency in scholarship and athletics.

Hilary Haen, Volleyball

Haen was the leader on an Illini volleyball team that made three straight trips to the Sweet 16. The setter earned honorable mention All-America as a junior and third-team All-America as a senior. Statistically, she ended her career fourth on the Illini's career assists list and eighth on the single-season list after a Big Ten-leading 1,471 assists in 2010. The two-time All-Big Ten selection earned four all-tournament honors, including being named Most Valuable Player of this season's State Farm Illini Classic.

Haen challenged herself academically with a dual degree in finance and accounting, two of the most rigorous programs at the University of Illinois. Her performance in the classroom earned her Academic All-Big Ten and Academic All-District accolades. She also displayed leadership in team events such as volleyball family Funfest and the Angel Tree project, and in Hometown Heroes projects, which included events with one of the volleyball team's school partners, Westview Elementary School.

"Hillary was a leader the minute she walked on campus and just grew every week she was here in that regard," volleyball coach Kevin Hambly said. "She will go down as one of the best leaders in the history of Illinois and is a huge reason for the turnaround in the program over the last four years that she was here."

Scott Langley, Golf

Langley, the 2010 NCAA individual champion and Ping! first-team All-American, finished his Illinois career with the second-best stroke average in school history. He was the leader in the greatest era of Illinois golf. During his four years, the Illini won 21 tournament titles, including the last three Big Ten Championships. Individually, Langley won three tournament titles and earned a pair of top-five Big Ten finishes.

Langley was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year and followed with three consecutive first-team All-Big Ten honors from his sophomore through senior seasons. He emerged on the national and international golf scene, representing the United States at the Palmer Cup, where he won the clinching match for the U.S. in the victory over the European contingent. He was one of three men to play on the American team in the 2010 World Amateur Team Golf Championship in Buenos Aries, Argentina. Langley not only qualified for the U.S. Open, but finished 16th and the low amateur at the event at Pebble Beach. Along the way, he moved into the top five in the world amateur golf rankings.

A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Langley earned his degree in accounting and was involved in Hometown Heroes, Big Brothers Big Sisters and elementary school reading nights.

"Scott made those around him better people," golf coach Mike Small said. "He believes in living his life through a lot of the characteristics that champions and leaders live by, and that is very contagious in a team atmosphere."