Edmondson, Schaller Awarded Maryland’s 2026 Big Ten Medal Of Honor, Student-Athlete Of The Year Accolades
5/4/2026 6:30:00 PM | Men's Lacrosse, Women's Lacrosse, Terrapin Athletics
COLLEGE PARK, MD -- Maryland women's lacrosse student-athlete Kori Edmondson and men's lacrosse student-athlete Will Schaller were named the University of Maryland's 2026 Big Ten Medal of Honor recipients and Maryland Student-Athletes of the Year.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is the conference's most exclusive award and was the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics to recognize academic and athletic excellence. The Big Ten Medal of Honor was first awarded in 1915 to one student-athlete from the graduating class of each university who had "attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work." Big Ten schools currently feature almost 10,000 student-athletes, but only 28 earn this prestigious award on an annual basis. In the 100 years of the Medal of Honor, more than 1,500 students have earned this distinction.
Kori Edmondson will conclude her career in College Park as one of the most decorated players in program history. The No. 1 recruit in the 2022 class, Edmondson chose to stay home and developed into one of the premier players to wear the Maryland uniform. She currently ranks 28th all-time in program history with 215 career points and 13th all-time in career goals with 182. During her senior season, Edmondson has been a key contributor across the field, ranking third on the team with 57 points (44 goals, 13 assists) while also sitting second with 67 draw controls. She earned All-Big Ten First Team honors for the second consecutive year and was named a Tewaaraton Award Top 25 finalist.
Edmondson was selected fourth overall in the first round by the New York Charging in the 2026 inaugural WLL College Draft. She has earned Preseason All-Big Ten Player to Watch honors, was named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, and has been selected Big Ten Midfielder of the Week twice this season.
As a junior, Edmondson was named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and was a Tewaaraton Top 25 finalist in 2025. She earned unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honors after leading the Terrapins' offense with 73 points, including 59 goals, and was a five-time Big Ten Midfielder of the Week selection. She also garnered All-America honors from USA Lacrosse, the IWLCA, and Inside Lacrosse, in addition to midseason First Team All-America recognition from Inside Lacrosse and a selection to the All-Big Ten Tournament Team.
A native of Severn, MD, Edmonson will graduate from Maryland this spring with a degree in Criminology & Criminal Justice and was an intern with the U.S. Secret Service as part of their Pathways program last summer. After the season concludes, she will travel with the United States National Team to compete for gold in Japan.
A native of Bel Air, MD, Schaller will graduate from Maryland this spring with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. He was named Academic All-Big Ten in both 2024 and 2025.
Schaller capped one of the most accomplished defensive careers in Maryland lacrosse history as a shutdown close defender, ultimately being selected in the Premier Lacrosse League College Draft by the Utah Archers. He earned major national recognition in 2025 as a USILA First Team All-American, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Big Ten selection, and NCAA All-Tournament Team honoree, while also landing on the 2026 Tewaaraton Award Watch List and USA Lacrosse Preseason First Team All-American team.
Across his career, Schaller became known for anchoring elite Maryland defenses that consistently neutralized top offenses, helping hold elite programs well below their scoring averages during deep postseason runs, including NCAA Championship appearances in both 2024 and 2025. He developed from a freshman role player into a full-time defensive leader and one of the nation's premier takeaway specialists, regularly leading the team, and ranking among the Big Ten leaders, in caused turnovers and ground balls.
A native of Bel Air, MD, Schaller will graduate from Maryland this spring with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. He was named Academic All-Big Ten in both 2024 and 2025.
The Big Ten, the nation's oldest collegiate conference, is commemorating the 111th anniversary of the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 2025.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is the conference's most exclusive award and was the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics to recognize academic and athletic excellence. The Big Ten Medal of Honor was first awarded in 1915 to one student-athlete from the graduating class of each university who had "attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work." Big Ten schools currently feature almost 10,000 student-athletes, but only 28 earn this prestigious award on an annual basis. In the 100 years of the Medal of Honor, more than 1,500 students have earned this distinction.
Edmondson was selected fourth overall in the first round by the New York Charging in the 2026 inaugural WLL College Draft. She has earned Preseason All-Big Ten Player to Watch honors, was named to the Tewaaraton Award Watch List, and has been selected Big Ten Midfielder of the Week twice this season.
As a junior, Edmondson was named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and was a Tewaaraton Top 25 finalist in 2025. She earned unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honors after leading the Terrapins' offense with 73 points, including 59 goals, and was a five-time Big Ten Midfielder of the Week selection. She also garnered All-America honors from USA Lacrosse, the IWLCA, and Inside Lacrosse, in addition to midseason First Team All-America recognition from Inside Lacrosse and a selection to the All-Big Ten Tournament Team.
A native of Severn, MD, Edmonson will graduate from Maryland this spring with a degree in Criminology & Criminal Justice and was an intern with the U.S. Secret Service as part of their Pathways program last summer. After the season concludes, she will travel with the United States National Team to compete for gold in Japan.
A native of Bel Air, MD, Schaller will graduate from Maryland this spring with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. He was named Academic All-Big Ten in both 2024 and 2025.
Schaller capped one of the most accomplished defensive careers in Maryland lacrosse history as a shutdown close defender, ultimately being selected in the Premier Lacrosse League College Draft by the Utah Archers. He earned major national recognition in 2025 as a USILA First Team All-American, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, First Team All-Big Ten selection, and NCAA All-Tournament Team honoree, while also landing on the 2026 Tewaaraton Award Watch List and USA Lacrosse Preseason First Team All-American team.
Across his career, Schaller became known for anchoring elite Maryland defenses that consistently neutralized top offenses, helping hold elite programs well below their scoring averages during deep postseason runs, including NCAA Championship appearances in both 2024 and 2025. He developed from a freshman role player into a full-time defensive leader and one of the nation's premier takeaway specialists, regularly leading the team, and ranking among the Big Ten leaders, in caused turnovers and ground balls.
A native of Bel Air, MD, Schaller will graduate from Maryland this spring with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. He was named Academic All-Big Ten in both 2024 and 2025.
The Big Ten, the nation's oldest collegiate conference, is commemorating the 111th anniversary of the Big Ten Medal of Honor in 2025.
Male
2015: Varun Ram. Men's Basketball
2016: Michael McCarney, Men's Lacrosse
2017: Cody Niedermeier, Men's Soccer
2018: Alex Leto, Track & Field
2019: Jahi Jones, Wrestling
2020: Jared Bernhardt, Men's Lacrosse
2021: Roman Puglise, Men's Lacrosse
2022: Logan Wisnauskas, Men's Lacrosse
2023: Nick Lorusso, Baseball
2024: Ajax Zappitello, Men's Lacrosse
2025: Jaxon Smith, Wrestling
2026: Will Schaller, Men's Lacrosse
2016: Michael McCarney, Men's Lacrosse
2017: Cody Niedermeier, Men's Soccer
2018: Alex Leto, Track & Field
2019: Jahi Jones, Wrestling
2020: Jared Bernhardt, Men's Lacrosse
2021: Roman Puglise, Men's Lacrosse
2022: Logan Wisnauskas, Men's Lacrosse
2023: Nick Lorusso, Baseball
2024: Ajax Zappitello, Men's Lacrosse
2025: Jaxon Smith, Wrestling
2026: Will Schaller, Men's Lacrosse
Female
2015: Malina Howard, Women's Basketball
2016: Rachelle Beanlands, Women's Soccer
2017: Zoe Stukenberg, Women's Lacrosse
2018: Kristen Confroy, Women's Basketball
2019: Abigail Bentz, Volleyball
2020: Kaila Charles, Women's Basketball
2021: Grace Griffin, Women's Lacrosse
2022: Brooke DeBerdine, Field Hockey
2023: Diamond Miller, Women's Basketball
2024: Emily Sterling, Women's Lacrosse
2025: Emma DeBerdine, Field Hockey
2026: Kori Edmondson: Women's Lacrosse
2016: Rachelle Beanlands, Women's Soccer
2017: Zoe Stukenberg, Women's Lacrosse
2018: Kristen Confroy, Women's Basketball
2019: Abigail Bentz, Volleyball
2020: Kaila Charles, Women's Basketball
2021: Grace Griffin, Women's Lacrosse
2022: Brooke DeBerdine, Field Hockey
2023: Diamond Miller, Women's Basketball
2024: Emily Sterling, Women's Lacrosse
2025: Emma DeBerdine, Field Hockey
2026: Kori Edmondson: Women's Lacrosse
Players Mentioned
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