DECATUR, Illinois – Recent ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ University graduates '21, '23 MBA (Effingham, Ill., Effingham H.S.) and '23 (Florissant, Mo., Incarnate Word) received the 2023 Lindsay Medallion on Saturday, Oct. 28 during the Big Blue football game against Wheaton. The Lindsay Medallion honors their achievements, both as students and as student-athletes, during their time with the Big Blue.
Named in honor of the late F. Merrill Lindsay, trustee emeritus, and his late wife, Margery "Sis" Lindsay, the Lindsay Medallion has been presented annually since 1997. The late Steve Spangler '68 designed the distinctive medallions, which honor student-athletes for outstanding performances on their respective Big Blue teams, as well as others who have positively impacted Big Blue athletics. Armstrong, a softball player, and Stuart, a volleyball player, graduated from ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ in May 2023.
Armstrong excelled as a Big Blue softball player, breaking four ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ records for strikeouts in an inning, a game, a season and a career. Her career record as a player was 64-19 and a 2.19 ERA. In her final season in 2023, she finished with a 17-3 record and 150 strikeouts. Her all-star performance helped lead her team to their first-ever win in the Super Regional to advance to the NCAA championship tournament.
For her accomplishments on the field, she was named to the CCIW Academic All-Conference five times and received the CCIW All-Conference First-Team Award three times. She also was named 2023 All-Region NFCA and CSC All-District, 2022 Academic Athlete of the Year, 2019 Newcomer of the Year and was named CCIW and Big Blue Player of the Week numerous times.
Armstrong earned two degrees from ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½. In 2021 she graduated from the Big Blue with a business management major and a finance minor. This July, she completed ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½'s MBA program, earning her master's degree in Business Administration with a focus on Project Management.
Stuart achieved a major volleyball career milestone during her senior year, when she scored 1,000 career kills, finishing her Big Blue career with 1,187 kills. While playing volleyball, she served as a team captain her junior and senior year and was named to the Grinnell-Central Invitational All-Tournament Team, UWSP All-Tournament Team, Big Blue Athlete of the Week three times, CCIW Offensive Player of the Week three times, First Team All-Conference twice, and received an AVCA All-Region honorable mention. Stuart also received the ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ Athletics Leadership Award.
Academically, Stuart graduated Summa Cum Laude, received a national research award, and was a recipient of the ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½'s Scovill Award, the highest student award for overall excellence
Tori graduated from ÐÇ¿ÕÎÞÏÞ´«Ã½ this spring after earning her bachelor's degree in Biology. She currently attends Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tenn., where she will graduate as a certified Physician's Assistant in August 2025.
