Conroy Jopson 2526

Conroy Earns ODAC's Harry G. "Doc" Jopson Award

6/11/2026 2:00:00 PM

By: Matt McIntosh '23
FOREST, Va. - Shenandoah University football's Matt Conroy has earned the Old Dominion Athletic Conference's (ODAC) highest individual honor with the Harry G. "Doc" Jopson Award for the 2025-26 year, following a vote from the conference's board of directors.Matt Conroy W&L Postgame

The ODAC awards the Marjorie Berkley and Harry G. "Doc" Jopson Awards each year to one female and one male member institution senior (or graduate student) and conference sport participants who exhibit the highest athletic, academic, and extracurricular achievements.

The Jopson Award is named in honor of the Bridgewater College professor and coach who retired in 1981 following 45 years at BC. Dr. Jopson, who initiated and directed the Eagles' cross country and track & field programs, led his teams to ODAC indoor track & field titles in 1979, 1980, and 1981, and outdoor crowns from 1978 through 1981.

Matt Conroy Buzzys 2026Conroy is the second SU recipient of the Jopson award, joining baseball's Gavin Horning, who earned the award back in 2024. Over the last five years, the Hornets have earned a combined five Berkley or Jopson awards, with the two male recipients joining women's basketball's Olivia Weinel (2022) and field hockey's Elise Velasquez (2024) and Mairead McKibbin (2025).

The Hornets' football star is the program's all-time leader in tackles with 442 throughout his four-year career. The linebacker is a four-time All-ODAC player, two-time all-region, a two-time all-American, and was a 2025 NFF Campbell Trophy Semifinalist. The team captain also helped lead the team to two postseason bowl games in 2024 and 2025.

In the classroom, Conroy achieved a 3.92 cumulative GPA while majoring in biochemistry. In 2025, he earned Academic All-America honors from College Sports Communicators (CSC) after earning multiple CSC Academic All-District nods.

Conroy has helped serve the local community as an elementary school peer mentor at Bass Hoover Elementary School and volunteered for the Relay for Life event held annually on Shenandoah's campus. Additionally, he was a tutor for the university for biology, physics, and chemistry majors.
 
Matt Conroy Senior Day

CONROY'S PERSONAL STATEMENT

"As a sophomore, my team chose me as their captain for the next three years. Being in a leadership position on a college football team as a sophomore was difficult. Challenges such as age gap, confidence, and high expectations weighed heavily on my shoulders. All leaders are chosen for demonstrating a high level of performance in their field. However, what sets great leaders apart is their ability to be present for their peers, especially during challenging times. The mark of a great leader is serving others rather than asking them to serve.
 
Throughout my collegiate career, I learned that titles, statistics, or awards do not define leadership, but by the impact made around me. Whether I was mentoring teammates, coordinating team events, or helping with team communication, I strengthened my ability to put myself before others. Along the way, I learned that leadership requires humility, courage, and consistency.
 
My academic journey reinforced those same values. While balancing pre-medical studies and football was never easy, I knew I had to maximize my academic output. Good grades and academic awards were a byproduct of the work I put in. The pursuit of excellence in the classroom taught me the importance of preparation, time management, and lifelong learning.
 
Service has also played a role in my character development. At first, like any teenager, I questioned if I wanted to volunteer. But after peer-mentoring elementary school students and working in health clinics, I not only saw the profound impact it had on others, but also how it shaped me. I felt the importance of empathy and giving back to those in need.
 
At Shenandoah, I challenged myself to learn, lead, and serve with purpose. Looking back, I realize these pursuits were never independent of one another. Each value guided my development and shaped who I am today. More importantly, they prepared me for a life dedicated to serving others. As I pursue a career in medicine and service in the United States Navy as a physician, I will carry forward the lessons I learned on the field, classroom, and community. As I begin this next chapter, I will continue to look back and reflect on my experiences at Shenandoah, which have shaped who I am today and will guide my actions for years to come."

SHENANDOAH BERKLEY AND JOPSON AWARD WINNERS

Olivia Weinel - Marjorie Berkley Award - Women's Basketball - 2022
Elise Velasquez - Marjorie Berkley Award - Field Hockey - 2024
Gavin Horning - Harry G. "Doc" Jopson Award - Baseball - 2024
Mairead McKibbin - Marjorie Berkley Award - Field Hockey - 2025
Matt Conroy - Harry G. "Doc" Jopson Award - Football - 2026

#GoSUHornets
 
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