Aug. 6, 2010
NORMAL, Ill. -
Illinois State men's basketball senior Blake Mishler is experiencing visionary leadership on the ISU campus, so it is fitting he has been selected to be the recipient of the 2010 Milt Weisbecker Endowed Scholarship, honoring the late ISU Director of Athletics from the 1960s and 1970s.
Established in 1990, the Weisbecker Endowed Scholarship is named for the man who led Illinois State's program into NCAA Division I status more than 35 years ago and stayed close to the ISU athletics program, even as his career moved on to other positions at Illinois State. The Weisbecker Scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior men's basketball player with a commitment to academics and competition.
"I was not fortunate to know Milt Weisbecker, but sometimes I feel like I did because of all the wonderful stories that have been shared about him," head coach Tim Jankovich said. "He left a tremendous mark on Illinois State Athletics and he lives on in so many people's memories."
Mishler played in 21 games last season, all as a reserve, after transferring to Illinois State from East Tennessee State. He scored 15 points on the season and also grabbed 15 rebounds.
"It really means a lot knowing what kind of visionary Mr. Weisbecker was and what he meant to the program," said Mishler. "Especially since I'm a part of what we are doing now with Redbird basketball, moving a positive direction and seeing the same thing on campus with Illinois State, as a whole, under the leadership of Dr. (Al) Bowman and Dr. (Sheahon) Zenger bringing ISU to the next level."
The Milt Weisbecker Endowed Scholarship is one of 23 endowed scholarships available to Illinois State student-athletes that are funded by private donors. It is also one of eight fully endowed scholarships in athletics.
For more information about supporting this, or any other Illinois State University endowment scholarships, call The Redbird Club office at (309) 438-3803.
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Milt Weisbecker Endowed Scholarship recipients
2010 - Blake Mishler
2008 - Brandon Holtz
2007 - Boo Richardson
2006 - Levi Dyer
2004 - Vince Greene
2003 - Kevin Troc
2002 - Marcus Arnold
2001 - Gregg Alexander
2000 - Rich Beyers
1999 - Ryan Crowley
1998 - Ronald van Velzen
1997 - Steve Hansell
1996 - LeRoy Watkins
1992 - Todd Kagel
1991 - Richard Thomas
1990 - Antoine Hicks
