ST. LOUIS - Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner Doug Elgin named Illinois State Redshirt junior CJ Hamilton a recipient of the MVC Leadership & Service Award, as announced Tuesday afternoon.
In order to be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must be in good academic standing, must demonstrate good citizenship through good sportsmanship and significant community service and must participate in a sport, during the season of recognition. The Valley will recognize 10 student-athletes three times annually (fall, winter, spring), for a total of 30 honorees.
Hamilton earned the award based on his strong academic standing and selfless demeanor in the community. The middle distance runner holds a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.47 and is a five-time ISU honor roll member. Within the community, Hamilton volunteers as a hotline worker at the 24-hour crisis help line, Providing Access to Help (PATH) volunteer, works with Recess Buddies, Reggie's Fun Zone helper and a nominee for Grabill-Homan Community Peace Prize offered by the Political Science Department at Illinois State.
In addition to his academic success and community involvement, Hamilton was named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team in 2014. He earned All-Valley honors as a part of the men's 4x400-meter team that clocked a time of 3:11.28, advancing the foursome to the NCAA West preliminary round in Arkansas. In 2013, he was named the Most Outstanding men's track athlete
Joining Hamilton, the 2015 winter honorees include Xzavier Taylor, Bradley, Men's Basketball; Elizabeth Heap, Drake, Women's Basketball; Taylor Shotwell, Evansville, Women's Swimming & Diving; DeSean Prentice, Indiana State, Men's Indoor Track & Field; Sam Penzenstadler, Loyola, Men's Indoor Track & Field; Tyler McCullough, Missouri State, Men's Basketball; Marvin Singleton, UNI, Men's Basketball; Ella Otto, Southern Illinois, Women's Swimming & Diving; Cara Detmer, Wichita State, Women's Indoor Track & Field.
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