Decatur, Ill. — Millikin University graduates Delaney Higgins ’26 and Sam Bushur ’26 were recognized for their accomplishments as exemplary student-athletes during their time with the Big Blue, receiving the 2026 Lindsay Medallion Awards on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. The two joined an elite group of individuals; only 51 student-athletes have previously been presented with the Lindsay Medallion.
Each year, the Lindsay Medallion is presented to student-athletes who have distinguished themselves both in competition and through the character, commitment, and leadership they demonstrated during their time at Millikin. Named in honor of the late F. Merrill Linday, Trustee Emeritus, and his wife, Margery “Sis” Lindsay, the Lindsay Medallion has been presented annually since 1997 to honor student-athletes for outstanding performances on their teams while positively impacting Big Blue Athletics. Lucy Lindsay Smith ’67, daughter of Sis and Merrill, and her husband, Bob Smith ’62, were on hand to assist Dr. Dean A. Pribbenow, Millikin President, with presenting the medallions.
Higgins, a Management Information Systems graduate from Milan, Mich., was recognized for her performance on Millikin’s Volleyball team. She earned CCIW Academic All-Conference honors in 2023, 2024, and 2025 and was the 2025 Jack Swartz Award winner.
On the court, Higgins was named to the CCIW All-Conference First Team in 2024 and the CCIW All-Conference Second Team in 2025. In 2025, she led the team with 317 kills and 45 service aces. She was also named to the 2025 CSC Academic All-District® Team.
Bushur, a Finance graduate from Teutopolis, Ill., was acknowledged as a standout member and leader of the Millikin Baseball team that won the CCIW Championship and Tournament in 2026 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. He is a three-time CCIW Academic All-Conference honoree and was named CSC Academic All-District® in both 2025 and 2026.
Bushur holds Millikin records for career hits (227) and hits in a single season (68). He earned CCIW All-Conference First Team honors and All-Region Second Team honors in 2025 after hitting .402 with 12 doubles, two triples, four home runs, and 43 RBI, also earning CCIW Hitter of the Week Recognition. Bushur was named to the CCIW All-Conference Second Team in 2024, the CCIW All-Conference First Team in 2023, and was the CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year in 2023.
Higgins and Bushur were also acknowledged at halftime during Millikin’s opening home football game against Luther College. The Big Blue won 37-14, bringing their season record to 1-1.
