Minnesota's Mike Thorn among Big Ten Medal of Honor winners for 2011

Park Ridge, Ill. - The Big Ten Conference office announced on Wednesday the 2011 Medal of Honor winners. The award was established in 1914 when the Big Ten endowed a Medal of Honor to be given annually to a student in the graduating class of each university that demonstrated proficiency in scholarship and athletics. In 1982, the Medal of Honor was expanded to include a senior female athlete from each institution.

This year, 22 student-athletes, representing 14 sports, have been chosen for the Medal of Honor. Twenty-one of this year's honorees earned Academic All-Big Ten status, while 16
of the recipients were named All-Big Ten selections.

The 2011 Big Ten Medal of Honor winners are listed below.

Illinois
Scott Langley, Men's Golf
Hillary Haen, Women's Volleyball

Indiana
Ben Chappell, Football
Vera Neuenswander, Women's Track & Field

Iowa
Julian Vandervelde, Football
Bethany Praska, Women's Track & Field

Michigan
Carl Hagelin, Men's Ice Hockey
Sarah Curtis, Women's Gymnastics

Michigan State
Brandon Eckerle, Baseball
Aimee Neff, Women's Golf

Minnesota
Mike Thorn, Wrestling
Kaylee Jamison, Women's Swimming & Diving

Northwestern
Matt Eliason, Men's Soccer
Maria Mosolova, Women's Tennis

Ohio State
Steven Kehoe, Men's Volleyball
Cassie Dickerson, Women's Soccer

Penn State
Stefen Wisniewski, Football
Jessica Babcock, Women's Track & Field

Purdue
Kyle Adams, Football
Allie Smith, Women's Swimming & Diving

Wisconsin
Gabe Carimi, Football
Maggie Meyer, Women's Swimming & Diving