WESTERVILLE, Ohio – On Monday evening, the Ohio Athletic Conference held the 2026 Clyde Lamb Award banquet on the campus of Otterbein University. This banquet is designed to honor one male and one female senior student-athletes from each of the nine member institutions. Selected to represent Capital University this year were Nate Younker and Samaree Perkins. 

To be chosen for the Clyde Lamb Award, student-athletes must have participated in an OAC-sponsored sport for at least two years, maintain senior status, hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00, and conduct themselves in a manner that brings credit to the student-athlete and the institution. 

The Clyde Lamb Award was founded in 1985 and is named in honor of Clyde A. Lamb. Lamb organized the department of health and physical education at Ohio Northern in 1929 and served as a coach, department chairman and athletics director for ONU for nearly 40 years.

Younker, a senior on the Capital football team, put together a memorable career in the Purple and White as he was three times named All-Conference as a wide receiver. In addition to his athletic prowess, Younker was a strong student, carrying a 3.70 GPA in Exercise Science. He was rewarded with Academic All-OAC, Academic All-District, NFF Scholar Athlete of Central Ohio, and NFF Hampshire Honor Society for his work in the classroom. Away from Capital, Nate was involved in volunteering with Bexley Youth Football, the Columbus Convention Center, and BeTheMatch. Additionally, Younker worked an on-campus physical therapy internship. 

Younker is the 13th football player since 1985 to earn the Clyde Lamb Award. 

Perkins, a senior on the Comets' women's basketball and volleyball teams, had a truly historic career as a two-sport athlete. On the court, Perkins was an All-American, an Academic All-American, the OAC Player of the Year and a finalist for the Jostens Trophy. As a student, Perkins completed her undergraduate studies in Professional Writing with a 4.00 GPA and carries a 3.91 GPA in her first year in law school. She has been rewarded with Academic All-Conference, Academic All-District, Academic All-America, and several on campus academic awards for her efforts as a student. Away from Capital, Perkins is involved in Women Lawyers of Franklin County, Columbus Bar Association, Black Law Students Association and coaches AAU basketball. 

Perkins is the 18th student-athlete from women's basketball and eighth volleyball player to earn the Clyde Lamb Award since its inception.