USAO names Bill and Pat Smith Scholar Athletes for 2024
Adding to their ever-growing list of accolades, men’s soccer standout, Matija Malenovic, and women’s basketball star, Lainey Morrow, were awarded the prestigious Bill and Pat Smith Scholar Athlete Award.
The award, which is given to up to two USAO senior athletes each year, recognizes individuals who exemplify the ideals of a student-athlete, demonstrating excellence in scholarship, citizenship and athletic competition.
Hailing from Cacak, Serbia, Malenovic showcased outstanding athleticism, earning his first all-conference recognition. With an impressive season record of eight goals, nine assists and 25 points, his dedication to excellence on and off the field is evident. In his career, Malenovic has appeared in 54 games, tallying nine goals, 13 assists, and 31 points. Off the pitch, he works as a resident assistant in campus housing. A senior business major with a computer science minor, Malenovic was named to the Regents Honor Roll for spring 2024.
Morrow, from Blanchard, dominated the basketball court, securing her second consecutive first-team All-SAC selection and achieving membership in the program's 1,000-point club. Her remarkable season included an average of 16.7 points per game and 9.2 rebounds, reflected her unwavering commitment to her sport. Academically, Morrow was equally impressive, graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. She has been accepted to the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where she will begin in the fall.
Malenovic’s and Morrow's remarkable accomplishments highlight the values of scholarship, sportsmanship and citizenship at USAO.
To be eligible for the Bill and Pat Smith Scholar Athlete Award, athletes must be a senior set to graduate within the academic year, maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA and exemplify the university’s values in all aspects of student life.
To view the photo album from this event, click here.
About the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma
As Oklahoma’s liberal arts college, the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma provides a distinctive education in the liberal arts and sciences, supporting both its interdisciplinary core curriculum and major fields of study with superior teaching. USAO fosters diversity of thought and practice to help students realize meaningful, purposeful and productive lives as global citizens in a rapidly-changing world.