LAWRENCE — Great Bend junior Morgan Kottas earned the prestigeous Essence of a Jayhawk award presented by the University of Kansas rowing team.

The honor is awarded to a non-senior rower who exhibits the qualities of a Jayhawk — being a good teammate and a positive individual who works hard. 

Kottas also earned the Jayhawks’ 2019 Oarswoman of the Year award. She earned All-Big 12 first-team academic honors. 

She is one of four recipients of the Dr. Lage Academic Achievement Award, the Big 12 Conferences highest academic honor. Others were Kelly Koenigsman, Liana Ochoa and Riley Varuska. 

Honor recipients earn a letterman jacket (first time), a K blanket (two-time) and a K watch (third time). 

Last year, Kottas was CRCA National Scholar Athlete, Academic All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 Boat of the Week.

Kottas is the daughter of Pat and Kathy Kottas. She’s majoring in architecture and construction management.

Kansas rowing earned a pair of fourth place finishes as the season concluded at the 2019 Big 12 Championship May 19 at Melton Hill Lake in Oak Ridge, Tenn.