The Walker Cup

The 2026 Walker cup Finalists

Robby Ballentine - 2026 Recipient

Robby Ballentine, an AL. Lund Scholar from Crown Point, Indiana, is a biochemistry major and four-year member of the DePauw University football team, where he served as senior captain.

He has distinguished himself as one of the nation's top scholar-athletes, earning recognition as a finalist for the William V. Campbell

Trophy and being named the NCAA Division ill Academic All-American of the Year. Robby's excellence extends to the field, where

he was named a First Team AP All-American, two-time First Team

Academic All-American, two-time Second Team D3football.com All-American, and Second Team AFCA All-American. A three-time First

Team All-Conference selection, he was also honored as the NCAC Offensive Player of the Year during his senior season. In the classroom and laboratory, Robby contributed to advancing a cancer research project within DePauw's biology department and currently holds a 3.93 GPA. He further demonstrated leadership as Academic Achievement Chair for Phi Delta Theta, supporting the academic success of his peers for two years. Currently preparing for an NFL Pro Day, Robby aspires to continue his football career professionally before pursuing dentistry. Robby will not soon forget the life changing opportunities and life long relationships that he formed on the DePauw University campus and hopes to continue to advance the institution in the years to come.

Mia Martin-Fuller

Mia Martin-Fuller, a Rector Scholar, is a environmental biology major from Columbus, Ohio. Mia has taken on many roles in her four years at DePauw, participating in several different parts of the campus community. She was a lateral entry into the Bonner Scholar Program, where she has served within the Bonner leadership, volunteered at the Greencastle Parks department, and interned in the WGSS department. Mia has worked hard to further enhance her education by pursuing research opportunities in her field past the scope of DePauw. Her sophomore year she earned a fellowship position at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and, in her junior year, secured a spot in an NSF-funded summer research program at Mississippi State University. She also was able to take advantage of DePauw's expansive study abroad program, spending her fall of her junior year in Far North Queensland, Australia through the School of Field Studies. While on campus, Mia is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., serving as Academic Chair, is Vice President of the National Panhellenic Council, and currently proudly serves as DePauw's Student Government President. Mia is beyond humbled and grateful to all the experiences at DePauw and beyond that has gotten her into this position today.

Jenna Newton

Jenna Newton is an Anthropology major and Psychology and Hispanic Studies minor from Franklin, Indiana. Recognized for her dedication to leadership, service, and academic excellence, Jenna is a Lilly and Rector Scholar, Media Fellow, and a member of the Psi Chi and Lambda Alpha honor societies. Jenna is deeply committed to strengthening the DePauw community. Her academic curiosity led her to restart and lead DePauw's Sociology and Anthropology Club after a multi-year hiatus. She is a proud Presidential Ambassador, representing DePauw as a public speaker at major alumni events. On campus, she serves as a first-year mentor and admissions liaison, supporting prospective and incoming students as they transition to the DePauw community. She has also contributed as a panelist and member of the Women in Economics and Business Club and is involved with the Green Greeks Council and the Lilly Scholars Network. Recognized as a leader within the Greek community, Jenna serves as Vice President of the Panhellenic Council. In this role, she has focused on advancing student well-being and safety, spearheading risk management initiatives surrounding major campus events. Jenna collaborated with Student Affairs, Counseling Services, and Public Safety to improve Monon transportation options, distribute first-aid kits in Greek houses, strengthen communication among chapter risk managers, and host educational sessions in the dorms for first-year students and a campus Narcan training. Following graduation, Jenna was named a Fulbright semifinalist and is awaiting notification regarding teaching English in Guatemala. She is excited to give back to DePauw as a proud alumna.

Eli VanHaaren

Eli VanHaaren is an Environmental Geoscience and Computer Science double major with a minor in Hispanic Studies from Cicero, Indiana. He has earned multiple Dean's List distinctions and received the Hugh Richard Gault Memorial award, recognizing high academic performance and contributions to the Geoscience Department. Eli was a four-year member of the swim team and was nominated as Newcomer of the Year in his first season. Beyond the pool, he served as secretary of the DePauw Rugby Club and serves as president of the Spikeball Club, where he organizes competitions and fosters community among students of all levels. Eli served as both Class Senator and Vice President of Student Life in DePauw Student Government, led the Student Life Board to approve 17 new student organizations, allocated funding, organized General Assembly meetings, and served as student liaison to university administration on policy decisions shaping campus life. As founder and president of the re-established Student Union Board organization, Eli led planning of the first Battle of the Bands, an Election Day Festival, and an Indoor Triathlon. These events engaged tens to hundreds of students and fostered collaboration across campus organizations and the Greencastle community. As president of Young Life, Eli leads a weekly men's Bible study, organizes campus-wide spiritual and social events, and participates in outreach with local middle and high schoolers. Upon graduation, Eli plans to return to Carmel, Indiana, pursuing data analytics and part-time ministry. He is grateful for the relationships and experiences that have shaped his time at DePauw.

Walker Cup Winners

(For a detailed history of the award, see the ;DePauw Library Guide to the Walker Cup.)

2025  Ashley Long

2024  Aaron Trinidad

2023  JD O'Keane

2022  Christina Bourantas

2021 Emma Bailey

2020 Brittany Davis

2019 Liam Byrnes

2018 Peter Gorman

2017 Sarah Fears

2016 Craig Carter

2015 Ashton Johnson

2014 Sandy Tran

2013 Mark Fadel

2012 Nic Flores

2011 Christine Walker

2010 Nikki Craker

2009 Matt Jennings

2008 John Schomburg

2007 Bess Evans

2006 Matt Ehinger

2005 Lindsey Ciochina

2004 Tricia Cooksey

2003 Nathan Hand

2002 Rebecca J. Hedge

2001 Ashley Brooke Krieg

2000 P. Jacob Gross

1999 Ryan James Danks

1998 Kevin Matthew Toler

1997 Jason Patrick Kreag

1996 Eric Robert Hauck

1995 Chad Christopher Mayer

1994 Ellen Jane Morrison

1993 James Anthony Rechtin

1992 Mindy Carol Montgomery

1991 Michelle Lynn Carnahan

1990 Holly Baker

1989 Douglas Driemeier

1988 Nancy J. Gritter

1987 Lisa Yen

1986 Anthony J. de Nicola

1985 Kathy A. Patterson

1984 Kathryn Senseman

1983 G. Richard Locke

1982 Kevin Armstrong

1981 Shea Nickell

1980 Dan Hasler

1979 Kyle Lanham

1978 Jane Brazes

1977 Discontinued

1976 Discontinued

1975 Discontinued

1974 Discontinued

1973 Discontinued

1972 Discontinued

1971 Discontinued

1970 Discontinued

1969 Jim Nyenhius

1968 David Jensen

1967 Martin F. Farrell

1966 Richard Roessler

1965 John Coldfelter

1964 Robert G. McDonald

1963 Mike Thomas

1962 Walter Lowe

1961 James Gladden

1960 Charles F. Hermann

1959 Allan Walker

1958 David Cryer

1957 Robert L. Schrier

1956 Margaret "Peg" Taylor

1955 Tom Sargent

1954 Clark Wagner

1953 Phil Steinberg

1952 Lee Hamilton

1951 Eunice Aileen Blanchard

1950 Kermit Morrison

1949 Charles Allen West

1948 Charles Roberts

1947 Fiske Field

1946 Norman Knights

1945 Agnes Turn

1944 Shirley Madsen

1943 Charles Sheridan

1942 Janice Wills

1941 Rosa Neil Reynolds

1940 Bill Welch

1939 Edwin Lindsay

1938 Jack Oswald

1937 Kermit Arnold

1936 Paul Turner

1935 Robert Fribley

1934 Franklin Tooke

1933 Don Wheaton

1932 Rex Moffett

1931 Dale Stackhouse

1930 Robert Kimberlin

1929 Willard Arnold

1928 Lloyd Messersmith

1927 Richard Stutridge