Chris Barnes

Chris Barnes finished his final season as UT Dallas’ all-time leading scorer.

Lyndsey Smith

Lyndsey Smith finished her final season with 1,375 points, the most ever.

Leah Boyer

Leah Boyer was named American Southwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year.

Three students who set new records in UT Dallas athletics were honored recently as the 2012 Athletes of the Year at the Athletic Department’s annual awards banquet.

Senior men’s basketball player Chris Barnes was named Male Student-Athlete of the Year, and senior women’s basketball player Lyndsey Smith and senior women’s soccer player Leah Bowyer were co-winners of the Female Student-Athlete award.

All three standouts won multiple individual awards during their four-year athletic careers and set all-time individual records for the University during their final seasons on campus. The winners were selected from nominations and voting by the UT Dallas coaches and staff members.

All three athletes were presented with commemorative balls marking their record-setting careers. The banquet was held April 22, bringing more than 250 student-athletes, parents and staff members to the Hyatt Richardson-North Dallas.

In addition to the top athlete awards, the coaches of the University’s 13 athletic teams presented individual team awards.

Chris Barnes, now a graduate student in the Naveen Jindal School of Management, finished his final season as UT Dallas’ all-time leading scorer. The senior from San Antonio scored 1,411 points during his four-year career and also finished among the top five in rebounding, blocks, three-point field goals, free throws and games played.

He was a two-time American Southwest Conference All-Conference player and was twice named the ASC East Division Player of the Year. He also was named to the ASC Academic All-Conference three times and was twice honored on the Academic All-America All-District team.

Lyndsey Smith set new records in women’s basketball scoring  during her final season, finishing with 1,375 points. She also topped records in career rebounds, three-point field goals and field goals made, as well as ranking third  in the University’s history in assists.

The senior from Gunter was the ASC East Division Player of the Year in 2012, also winning honorable mention All-American on a pair of national teams.

Leah Bowyer was the women’s soccer team’s leading scorer for three straight seasons, finishing her career as the program leader in points (goals and assists). The senior from Lubbock was named the ASC Offensive Player of the Year in her final season and to the prestigious ASC All-Conference first team. A three-time Academic All-Conference player, she was selected for second team honors for Academic All-District in 2011.