AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn assistant equestrian coach Emma Kurtz received the 2023 Leah Rawls Atkins Award and diver Conner Pruitt was presented the 2023 Cliff Hare Award Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Auburn's coaches and administrators nominated Kurtz for the honor which is presented annually for excellence in academics and athletics to a student-athlete who also models leadership, integrity and courage.
"It's such an honor to receive this award," said Kurtz, who competed in jumping seat for the Tigers from 2018-23. "I'm so humbled and grateful."
Tied for the program lead with 57 fences wins and second all-time with 48 flat wins, Kurtz helped Auburn win SEC and national championships while earning a finance degree and MBA from Auburn University's Harbert College of Business.
"I think I owe everything I've gotten to this point in my lift to my time with my parents, to my coaches to my time here at Auburn with the equestrian team, and to this community," Kurtz said. "It has impacted me a lot.
"My coaches have developed such an incredible program here. The way they run things has made me into the person I am today."
After an exceptional riding career, Kurtz remained on the Plains as an assistant coach for Auburn equestrian.
"Coach Braswell has been a mentor for me for five years," Kurtz said. "She's helped make this transition seamless for me. I can relate to the student-athletes because I was in their shoes this time last year.
"Between the rest of the coaches on staff and my former teammates who are now my student-athletes, they've made it very easy for me."
A graduate of nearby Opelika High School, Pruitt wrapped up his diving career at Auburn in the spring, earning top 20 finishes on 1-meter and 3-meter at the NCAA Championships in what was his final meet before remaining with the program as a graduate assistant coach.
A four-time team captain and four-time NCAA qualifier, Pruitt earned honorable Mention All-America honors in 2022 and 2023 while serving on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as chair of the NIL Subcommittee the last two years.
He was a four-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection and received the SEC Brad Davis Community Service Award in 2022.
Presented annually since 1958, the Cliff Hare Award honors a senior student-athlete for academic and athletic success as well as leadership, integrity and courage.
Pruitt becomes the sixth diver to win the Cliff Hare Award, joining Caesar Garcia (2003), Steven Segerlin (2007), Dan Mazzaferro (2011), Frazer McKean (2015) and Justin Youtsey (2016).
"It's great to carry on the tradition," he said. "I love the Creed so to win an award that symbolizes that is super meaningful. The Auburn Creed outlines more than just a student and an athlete, but a true Auburn man and woman.
"Every time I read the Creed it motivated me to be the man Auburn made me to be, especially being from Auburn, I felt some pressure to signify that in everything I did. There's always been a fire in me as a competitor, not just in athletics but in the classroom, community service and anything this award signifies."
🏆 @AuburnTigers Leah Rawls Atkins Award: Emma Kurtz from @AuburnEQ
— Jeff Shearer (@jeff_shearer) November 2, 2023
🏆 Cliff Hare Award: Conner Pruitt from @AuburnSwimDive
"I'm so humbled to receive this amazing award." ⤵️#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/7sqoSNvFSE
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer