WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (PurdueSports.com) – While performing at an All-American level and earning Academic All-Big Ten accolades in the classroom, Daryn Wright and Trey Kaufman-Renn competed at the Olympic Games and NCAA Final Four, respectively, as Boilermaker student-athletes. They have been selected as Purdue Athletics' recipients of the Big Ten Medal of Honor for the 2025-26 school year, recognizing their dual proficiency in scholarship and athletics.
As standouts in diving and basketball, Wright and Kaufman-Renn each competed in four consecutive NCAA Championships. Wright was a four-year qualifier for the national championship meet in both 3-meter and platform diving. Kaufman-Renn played in 14 NCAA Tournament games as a Boilermaker, starting all but one.
Wright and Kaufman-Renn represent the Boilermakers in the 112th class of recipients of the Big Ten's most prestigious award. Established during the 1914-15 school year, the Big Ten Medal of Honor is awarded to one male and one female student-athlete closing out their collegiate careers from each Big Ten institution. The 36 Medal of Honor recipients from around the conference represent an all-sports honor roll of the best and brightest in the league. It was the first award in intercollegiate athletics to demonstrate support for the educational emphasis placed on athletics.
Wright joins a long list of divers who have dominated the award for the Boilermakers in recent years. The diving program has claimed 10 honors total, including nine since 2014 and six this decade – substantially the most at Purdue during both spans.
Kaufman-Renn joins former teammate Mason Gillis as men’s basketball’s Big Ten Medal of Honor recipients this decade. Basketball has accounted for 11 of Purdue’s Big Ten Medal of Honor recipients this century.
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PURDUE’S BIG TEN MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS |
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BASKETBALL (Since 2000) |
DIVERS |
Kaufman-Renn is a four-year Academic All-Big Ten as a philosophy major in the College of Liberal Arts. He was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA Draft on Wednesday night. In May, Wright earned her bachelor’s degree in retail management in the College of Health and Human Sciences, doing so as a three-year Academic All-Big Ten honoree as well as a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar and CSCAA Scholar All-American. She is currently working for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Wright earned the right to compete for Team USA in 10-meter diving at the 2024 Olympic Games. As one of six Purdue divers to compete at the Paris Games, she helped write another chapter in Purdue Diving’s Olympic legacy – becoming the Boilermakers’ first female diver to qualify for the Olympics while she was an active student-athlete.
Kaufman-Renn became a full-time starter during the 2023-24 campaign, helping Purdue reach the Final Four for the first time since 1980. He took his game to the next level the following season, earning honorable mention All-America accolades along with first-team All-Big Ten honors. As a senior, he helped the Boilermakers win their second Big Ten Tournament title in four years and made the game-winning tip-in vs. Texas in a thrilling Sweet 16 victory at the NCAA Tournament.
Wright closed out her diving career this year as a silver medalist on platform at the NCAA Championships. She also won medals on platform (silver) and 3-meter (bronze) at the Big Ten Championships. The Plainfield, Indiana, native was a four-time Big Ten medalist and six-time All-American during her career. She also won USA Diving national titles on 10-meter at the 2021 and 2024 Winter Nationals.
Kaufman-Renn scored 1,655 points during his Purdue career, good for 19th in team history. He also racked up 762 rebounds and 235 assists while shooting 57% from the field. He became just the fourth player in team history with 1,600 points, 750 rebounds and 225 assists in a career. The Boilermakers compiled a 117-32 record during his four seasons on the court. Purdue’s Class of 2026 became the winningest senior class in program history.