The University of Minnesota announced that Mya Hooten (gymnastics) and Dawson Garcia (men’s basketball) are the school’s recipients of the Big Ten Medal of Honor.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded annually to a top female and male student-athlete at each conference institution, with this year’s honor marking the 111th anniversary of the award. The conference’s most exclusive award 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 feature thousands of student-athletes, but only 28 earn this prestigious award on an annual basis.
Hooten is the fifth Minnesota women’s gymnast to receive the honor and the second consecutive, as Gianna Gerdes received the award in 2024. Garcia is the 24th men’s basketball player to receive the award, but the first since 1983 when Randy Breuer was honored.
Hooten, a senior from Woodbury, Minn., wrapped up an outstanding career in the Maroon and Gold this spring. A two-time AAI Award nominee, Hooten finished her time at Minnesota with 13 All-America honors, including eight from the WCGA and five from the NCAA Championships.
Hooten was a six-time Big Ten Champion, four-time First Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Championships honoree, 13-time Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week, four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, and a 2024 First Team CSC Academic All-American. She graduated from the Carlson School of Management with her bachelor’s degree in business and marketing education and her master’s degree in human resources and industrial relations.
The Chanhassen High School graduate was the first ever Golden Gopher to earn a ‘Perfect 10’ on the floor, and she did so nine times in her career. Other honors taken home during her career include one Big Ten Gymnast of the Week award, two WCGA Scholastic All-American nods, and twice being named a Big Ten Gymnast to Watch. She took home the NCAA Regional Championship on vault in 2024 in Fayetteville, Ark.
One of the greatest gymnasts in Minnesota history, Hooten wrapped up her career by qualifying for nationals as an individual and earned NCAA Championships Second Team All-America honors on April 18. She helped Minnesota win the 2021 Big Ten Championship and earn appearances at both the 2021 and 2022 National Championships. Minnesota earned a sixth-place finish at nationals in 2022, the highest in program history.
Hooten
Garcia, a senior from Savage, Minn., was a three-year standout on the hardwood. In 89 games for the Maroon and Gold, Garcia ranked 10th in career points (1,557) as a Gopher. He also ranked ninth in career scoring average (17.5), 12th in career field goals (546), seventh in free throws made (356) and 10th in free throw attempts (459). During all three of his Gopher seasons from 2022-25, Garcia led the team in points and rebounds, becoming the first Gopher to accomplish this feat since Randy Breuer from 1981-83.
The Prior Lake High School product received six postseason All-Big Ten honors in three seasons as a Gopher. He was named a Second Team All-Big Ten selection in both his junior and senior seasons and honorable mention in 2022-23. Garcia was also a two-time Preseason All-Big Ten, a multiple-time Basketball Hall of Fame finalist, and a Naismith Trophy Watchlist honoree in his Gopher tenure. He was also a two-time NABC All-District selection.
Off the court, Garcia was a multiple-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and NABC All-Academic honor court selection. He graduated with a communications degree in 2024. He was also a champion in community service work.
Garcia arguably saved his best season for his last. He led the team in scoring and conference action alone, averaging 19.2 points, which placed him fourth in the league. In 31 games played, Garcia had 26 double-digit games this past season, 17 20-point games and three 30-point performances. His 17 20-point games ranked as one of the best in the Big Ten. Of those 20-point games, 11 came against Big Ten opponents. In addition, Garcia scored 614 points in 2024-25, which ranked sixth in school history.
Garcia
(info courtesy of Gopher Sports)
