ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico Alumni Lettermen’s Association has announced that four individuals: Simon Ejdemyr (Soccer), Maja Kovacek (Tennis), Steve Ortiz (Gymnastics), and Tamika Stukes (Basketball) will be inducted into the UNM Athletic Hall of Honor on Thursday, November 17. In addition, Carl Jackson (Football) will be inducted as the 2022 Distinguished Service Award winner.
Along with the honorees, the 2021-22 Coach of the Year Heather Dyche (Soccer), Female Athlete of the Year Andrea Howard (Softball) and Male Athlete of the Year Arda Azkara (Tennis) will be celebrated.
A reminder that fans can attend the awards dinner, which will be held on Thursday, November 17 at 6:00 p.m. at the Events Center at Sandia Golf Club. Tickets are $60 each or $600 for a table of 10. Call the UNM Alumni Lettermen’s Association at 505-925-5905 to purchase tickets.
Below are biographical sketches on UNM’s inductees in the Hall of Honor for 2022.
Simon Ejdemyr (Soccer 2006-2009)
- Bachelor of Arts from UNM in Political Science 2010
- PhD in Political Science from Standford University
- 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year (National Winner)
- 2007 Third Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American
- 2008 First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American
- 2009 Second Team NSCAA Scholar All-American
- 2009 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Recipient
- Three-time Academic All-District (2007, 2008, 2009)
- Three-time Acaddemic All-Conference (2007, 2008, 2009)
- 2006 College News First Team Freshman All-American
- NSCAA Third Team All-Far West (2007, 2008)
- NSCAA First Team All-Far West (2009)
- Four-time First Team All-Conference
- Senior Data Scientist for Netflix 2020-present
Maja Kovacek (Tennis 2003-2006)
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology from UNM 2007
- Mountain West Conference Scholar Athlete (2004, 2005, 2006)
- ITA Scholar-Athlete (2004, 2005, 2006)
- ESPN Academic All-District
- Mountain West Conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year 2006
- NCAA Sportswoman-of-the-Year nominee (one of 30) 2006
- Two-time All-American (2004, 2006)
- Three-time NCAA qualifier (2004, 2005, 2006)
- Illinois State University Head Women’s Tennis Coach 2014-present
Steve Ortiz (Gymnastics 1975-1978) (Posthumous)
- Degrees in Medical Technologies (1979) and Doctor of Medicine (1991) from UNM
- Western Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete
- Ten-time All-Western Athletic Conference Gymnast
- Five-time Western Athletic Conference Champion
- NCAA All-American High Bar 1979
- Semi-finalist for 1976 USA Olympic Team
Tamika Stukes (Basketball 1994-1998)
- Bachelor of Arts from UNM 1998
- Western Athletic Conference All-Academic Team (1997, 1998)
- Member of the UNM 1,000 point club
- UNM women’s basketball all-time steals leader (354)
- Holds all UNM women’s basketball individual steals records (most steals in a game, in a season, in a conference game, in a career, average per game, average per season)
- First-team All-Western Athletic Conference (1995-1996)
- Second-team All-Western Athletic Conference (1997-1998)
- Three-time All-Western Athletic Conference Defensive Team (1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98)
- All-Western Athletic Conference Tournament Team (1995-96)
- Led the Western Athletic Conference in Steals (1997-98)
- 1998 Western Athletic Conference Tournament Champions
- Member of first UNM Women’s Basketball team to play in the NCAA Tournament
Carl Jackson- Distinguished Service Award (Football 1965-1966) (Posthumous)
- Bachelors (1968) and Masters (1974) of Education from UNM
- UNM Rushing Leader (1965, 1966)
- 2 in rushing and scoring for Western Athletic Conference 1966
- Founded the UNM Athletic Hall of Honor in 1986
- First Black President for UNM Alumni Lettermen’s Association
- UNM Centennial Homecoming Chairman 1989
- Community involvement included consulting and counseling with the Juvenile Detention Center in Albuquerque where he served as an Intake Officer.
- Served as Program Director for Martinez Town Community Center in Albuquerque, the Special Programs Assistant for the City of Albuquerque and the Assistant Superintendent of CABQ Parks and Recreation
- Appointed Associate Director of Cultural and Recreational Services