BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Big Ten Conference celebrates its 111th class of recipients who earned the Big Ten Medal of Honor from their respective institutions during the 2024-25 academic year. Established in 1915, the Big Ten Medal of Honor is the conference’s most prestigious award. It was the first award in intercollegiate athletics to demonstrate support for the educational emphasis placed on athletics.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each member institution who has demonstrated excellence on and off the field throughout their collegiate career. This year’s class comprised student-athletes from 15 sports.
Big Ten schools currently feature more than 11,000 student-athletes, but only 36 earn the award on an annual basis. Since the Big Ten Medal of Honor was first presented more than a century ago, just over 1,680 student-athletes have earned this unique distinction. Those names are on permanent display at the Big Ten Office in Rosemont.
The 111th Big Ten Medal of Honor class includes Indiana softball’s Brianna Copeland and Indiana swimming and diving’s Jassen Yep.
Brianna Copeland, Softball
Brianna Copeland was a four-year standout for the Hoosiers, and her senior campaign was her best.
The Pelham, Alabama, native hit .331 with 57 hits, 12 doubles, 13 home runs and 40 RBIs. She also recorded a .628 slugging percentage and a .440 on-base percentage. In the circle, she posted an 18-10 record while throwing 148 strikeouts and holding opposing batters to a .274 batting average.
Copeland was recognized as a 2025 NFCA third-team All-American, marking the second time she received the honor, as well as being named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team, NFCA All-Region First Team. She also earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2024 and 2025 and was an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete in 2023.
Through Copeland’s outstanding play, she helped elevate the standards of Indiana softball, leading the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in program history from 2023-25.
Jassen Yep, Swimming and Diving
Jassen Yep capped his collegiate career with one of the most special moments of the 2024-25 NCAA swimming and diving season. The senior from Saratoga, California, became NCAA Champion in the 200-yard breaststroke with the third-fastest time ever, going 1:48.30.
Prior to this season, Yep had never gone under 1:50 in the event. His best time coming into college was a 1:57.42. Yep is another “Breaststroke U” great, having also won the 200 breast Big Ten title in 2024.
In his five-year collegiate career, Yep helped Indiana win four consecutive Big Ten Championships (2022-25), and the Hoosiers finished sixth or better nationally all five seasons – including third at the 2025 NCAA Championships.
Yep’s character platformed his swimming success, proving himself a leader and scholar. He served as a captain for the 2025 team and, in 2024, won the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Academically, Yep earned both Academic All-Big Ten and CSCAA Scholar All-America honors each of the four years he was eligible.
