Twelve student-athletes from across the nation are the finalists for the 2004-05 John Wooden Trophy for character, sportsmanship and their contributions to society and one of them is middle blocker Amber Rogers from the Illinois State University volleyball team.
A senior education major from Muskegon, Mich., Rogers volunteered in the Dominican Republic to help Haitian refugees during the summer of 2004. Last month, she was a finalist for the Good Neighbor Award presented by Illinois State athletics that recognizes extraordinary dedication and service at the State Farm Academic Excellence Banquet.
The trophy is presented annually to the intercollegiate and professional athlete or coach that most exemplifies the Code for Living as selected by the national board of directors of Athletes for a Better World. Voting will take place in November, with the college selection coming from 100 top intercollegiate athletics administrators nation-wide. Balloting will conclude in November and a national winner from both the College and Olympic/Professional divisions will be announced at a Jan. 10, 2005 banquet in Los Angeles.
Rogers was the first winner of the Janyth Aellig Endowed Scholarship at Illinois State in 2003 and has been a six-time member of Illinois States AFNI Athletics Honor Roll. She is the only volleyball player on the ballot.
The Olympic/Professional division finalists include NBA stars Ray Allen and Walter McCarty, womens basketball pros Dawn Staley and Sue Bird, top golf money-winner Phil Mickelson, along with NFL stand-outs Peyton Manning, Will Shields and Chad Lewis.
College Finalists
William Betz Men's Swimming Brigham Young
Patrick Cobbs Football North Texas
Craig Forth Men's Basketball Syracuse
Dionnah Jackson Women's Basketball Oklahoma
Clark Lee Football Vanderbilt
Jill Macari Womens Golf Fairfield
Lunzaya Nlandu Men's Basketball Western Carolina
Caroline Renkin Women's Soccer North Carolina-Wilmington
Amber Rogers Volleyball Illinois State
DeAngelo Williams Football Memphis
Lauryn Williams Track and Field Miami
Michael Williams Football Stephen F. Austin State
Olympic/Professional Finalists
Ray Allen Basketball Seattle Sonics
Sue Bird Basketball Seattle Storm
Josh Davis Olympic Swimming San Antonio Sports Foundation
Tim Duncan Basketball San Antonio Spurs
Kevin Hall Olympic Sailing US Sailing
Chad Lewis Football Philadelphia Eagles
Peyton Manning Football Indianapolis Colts
Walter McCarty Basketball Boston Celtics
Phil Mickelson Golf PGA TOUR
Angela Ruggiero Olympic Ice Hockey USA Hockey
Will Shields Football Kansas City Chiefs
Dawn Staley Basketball Charlotte Sting
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