Eric Dick is among the winners of the 2017-18 BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards, which recognize academic and athletic achievement as well as community service.

The Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards are given to one student-athlete in each BIG EAST-sponsored sport based on academic credentials, athletic accolades or performances and volunteer service to the community. Student-athletes who have attained junior academic standing and a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 are eligible. The winners are chosen by the BIG EAST Faculty Athletics Representative Council.

Dick is the second straight Butler men's soccer player to receive the award, with David Goldsmith earning the 2016-17 honor.

The 2017-18 BIG EAST Male Scholar Athlete of the Year posted a cumulative GPA of 3.376, graduating with a degree in Science Technology and Society. Dick was a United Soccer Coaches First Team Scholar All-American and a First Team Scholar All-Great Lakes Region.

On the field, the goalkeeper helped lead the Bulldogs to a 2017 BIG EAST Regular Season championship. He was named a United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American, the 2017 BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year, and was a 2017 All-BIG EAST First Team honoree. Dick was also a four-time BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Week selection during his senior season.

The list of 22 honorees includes 13 seniors, seven juniors and two graduate students.  Nine of the winners competed in the NCAAs in their respective sports this past year. Sixteen were or have been BIG EAST Players of the Year or BIG EAST Championship winners. Georgetown and Marquette led the way with four honorees each with DePaul, Seton Hall and Villanova close behind with three. Providence had pair of award winners, while Butler, Creighton and Xavier each had one. Noah Yanchulis and Alexis Walkden of Seton Hall were repeat honorees. Villanova's Cleirigh Buttner was honored in both the sports of Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field.

While the format of the awards allows for only one declared winner in each sport category, the selection of the recipients proves each year to be a challenge for the FAR Council, as candidate nominees represent exceptional student-athletes who excel in academics, service, and athletics, and are outstanding representatives of their schools and the Conference.

2017-18 Sport Excellence Award Winners 
Baseball – Rob Dadona (Seton Hall)
Men's Basketball – Jalen Brunson (Villanova)
Women's Basketball – Allazia Blockton (Marquette)
Men's Cross Country – Amos Bartelsmeyer (Georgetown)
Women's Cross Country – Catarina Braz-Rocha (Providence)
Men's Indoor Track & Field – Kyle Decker (DePaul)
Women's Indoor Track & Field – Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (Villanova)
Men's Outdoor Track & Field – Derek Gross (Marquette)
Women's Outdoor Track & Field – Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (Villanova)
Field Hockey – Megan Hamilton (Providence)
Men's Golf – Sam Madsen (Georgetown)
Women's Golf – Jacquelyn Eleey (Georgetown)
Men's Lacrosse – John Wagner (Marquette)
Women's Lacrosse – Grace Gabriel (Marquette)
Men's Soccer – Eric Dick (Butler)
Women's Soccer – Carly Alfano (Xavier)
Softball – Alexis Walkden (Seton Hall)
Men's Swimming & Diving – Noah Yanchulis (Seton Hall)
Women's Swimming & Diving – Molly Fitzpatrick (Georgetown)
Men's Tennis – Alex Galoustian (DePaul)
Women's Tennis – Pati Lancranjan (DePaul)
Volleyball – Jaali Winters (Creighton)