Penn State football and softball represent the Nittany Lions as Big Ten Medal of Honor recipients

The Big Ten Medal of Honor recipients were announced on Tuesday, June 17. The award is given to one male and one female student-athlete of the graduating class in each school in the conference that "demonstrated excellence on and off the field throughout their college career." It is considered the highest honor awarded in the Big Ten.

This year, Nittany Lions of Penn State football and softball received the Big Ten Medal of Honor.

Tight end Tyler Warren receives Big Ten Medal of Honor

Warren, who was recently drafted No. 14 overall by the Indianapolis Colts, was named the male recipient of the Big Ten Medal of Honor.

With the Nittany Lions on the field, he finished his NCAA career with a total of 153 receptions, 1,839 receiving yards, 19 receiving touchdowns, 32 carries, 224 rushing yards, and six rushing touchdowns. He had five, 100-yard games as well at Penn State. Leaving the Nittany Lions, he leads the program's tight ends in total touchdowns, receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and 100-yard games. Warren is also tied at fourth among tight ends in the Big Ten for career receptions and receiving touchdowns.

In his senior season alone, he had 104 receptions for 1,233 yards, averaging 11.9 yards per catch, and eight receiving touchdowns. Warren also had 26 rushing attempts for 218 yards and four rushing touchdowns. He finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting, was honored as the Fiesta Bowl Offensive Player of the Game, and won the John Mackey Award.

In the classroom, he earned his first degree in Fall 2023 in advertising and public relations with a 3.36 cumulative GPA. Warren then completed his second degree in telecommunications in Fall 2024. His academics led him to be a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy (AKA the "Academic Heisman").

Utility player Maddie Gordon receives Big Ten Medal of Honor

Gordon, a three-year graduate from Penn State, was honored as the female recipient of the Big Ten Medal of Honor.

She had a breakout season as a junior, leading her to being named to the NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team. Gordon was also selected to the Second Team All-Big Ten. She joined three other players in program history to start in all 55 games, according to Penn State Athletics, which is unsurprising given her program-high at-bats, runs scored, home runs, RBIs, total bases, and slugging percentage in a single season. Gordon hit .342 with 12 home runs and a 1.122 on-base plus slugging as a junior.

She also helped her team make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. Gordon's breakout year also moved her to fourth in Penn State batting history for most home run hits. She was considered one of the all-around batting stars for the Nittany Lions.

Off the field, she completed a double major with a cumulative 3.93 GPA in recreation, park, and tourism management and human development and family studies. Her thesis was based around spreading mental health awareness and fostering support for student-athletes. She was an active member of Penn State's community as a member of the university's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the Athletic Department Leadership Institute, and Penn State Christian Athletes.

Gordon's off-the-field work went beyond the classroom as well. Of some of her volunteer work, she assisted in Penn State's Special Olympics Sports Fest and visited elementary schools to encourage young students. She also participated in a pep rally, motivating her teammates to join, after her consistent work with the YMCA.