UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Nittany Lion student-athletes TJ Malone (men’s lacrosse) and Cori Dyke (women’s soccer) garnered the loftiest academic and athletic accolades bestowed upon Big Ten Conference student-athletes, securing Penn State’s Big Ten Medals of Honor for the 2023-24 academic year. Malone and Dyke were both recognized as All-Americans during their illustrious collegiate careers, with both athletes selected into their respective sports’ professional leagues in the 2024 draft cycle.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded to one male and one female student from the graduating class of each member institution who has demonstrated excellence on and off the field throughout their college career. The highest honor that a student competing in conference athletics can achieve in the Big Ten, the award was established in 1915 and was the first award in intercollegiate athletics to demonstrate support for the educational emphasis placed on athletics. During the past century, the Big Ten Medal of Honor has been awarded to more than 1,500 honorees. These individuals have translated their campus experience into success in all walks of life.
Malone has been among the top career point (252) and goal scorers (152) in Penn State men’s lacrosse history. In his final collegiate season in 2024, he led the Nittany Lions back to the NCAA Tournament as he produced a career-high 78 points off 42 goals and 36 assists. During the 2024 campaign, Malone racked up nine games with five or more points and 12 multi-goal games.
The West Chester, Pennsylvania native led the Nittany Lions during the season in points and assists and was tied for first in game-winning goals. He was also named a top-25 Tewaaraton Award finalist. Malone finished his career on a 49-game goal streak which led all of NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse. Throughout his entire career at Penn State, Malone suffered numerous injuries including a hip hernia surgery while at Penn State that even forced him to sit out the entire 2022 season. But during his entire life he never let injuries define or impact him.
Malone was a key leader during the Nittany Lions second final four run in program history in 2023 where they were nearly edged by No. 1 Duke in overtime. Malone in 2023 was…
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