Timothy Kahn of Fresno Pacific (Calif.) University and Colleen Smith of The College of Idaho receive prestigious A.O. Duer award
May 20, 2010
May 20, 2010
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has selected Timothy Kahn of Fresno Pacific (Calif.) University and Colleen Smith of The College of Idaho to receive the prestigious A.O. Duer award. The A.O. Duer award was established in 1967, to recognize a junior male and female student-athlete who has excelled in character, playing ability and scholarship. The award is named after former NAIA executive director Al Duer. Duer constantly sought to promote an integration of education and sport in the NAIA, reflecting an ideal balance between work and play, body, mind and spirit.
"The NAIA is delighted to recognize Timothy and Colleen with the A.O. Duer award," said Jim Carr, NAIA president and CEO. "These student-athletes represent everything that embodies the NAIA spirit. They excel academically and athletically and are wonderful representatives of 60,000 student-athletes competing under the NAIA banner. The award is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious awards and Timothy and Colleen are truly exemplary models of scholar, athlete and citizen."
Kahn and Smith were selected by the NAIA Council of Faculty Athletics Representatives from a field of nominees who attend NAIA member institutions. Candidates must achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale. Fresno Pacific University and The College of Idaho will receive a $1,000 scholarship award from Daktronics in the name of the winner.
In just the past three years, Kahn has received numerous awards. Among those honors is the Paragon Scholarship, a top academic award given to a Fresno Pacific student. Kahn, who maintains a 4.0 grade point average, is studying pre-med and is a member of the Sunbirds swimming and water polo teams. It is said he brings an intensity to competition that is infectious, and his efforts qualified him for the NAIA Men's Swimming National Championship his freshman year. Kahn's ability to participate in college-level athletics and to simultaneously maintain a high level of academic performance, suggests that he has a relatively disciplined character. He has used athletics as a vehicle to build great relationships, meaningful life challenges, exciting academic opportunities and a great understanding of how he can serve others more effectively.
"Kahn is a highly motivated and dedicated student-athlete with a combination of work ethic and intellectual intuitiveness that separates him from the rest," said Dr. Steven W. Pauls, Department of Science and Mathematics at Fresno Pacific. "Tim knows where he is headed in terms of a career and one of his greatest attributes is his ability to recognize and integrate topics from different courses, which helps to further his understanding, retention and goal of becoming a doctor."
As a scholar and student-athlete, Kahn enjoys giving back and in his second year of study he created, through World Concern, a volunteer position in Bolivia to run a public health campaign. The semester in South America solidified his desire to be a doctor and servant leader.
Also being recognized is Colleen Smith, a two-sport student-athlete at The College of Idaho. When it comes to excellence in academics, athletics, community service and passion for challenging herself across the board, Smith is in a class by herself. She is a rare student, who does more than required, invariably thinks outside the norm and stretches her own considerable abilities.
"It is no coincidence that both the women's soccer and track teams have enjoyed their greatest success in school history since Colleen's arrival on campus," said Pat McCurry, head track & field coach at The College of Idaho, adding that "she makes her teammates better because she illustrates what is possible when one is truly committed."
In addition to Smith's athletic success and possibly more impressive is her ability to maintain a 4.0 grade point average, serve as the editor of the student newspaper and participate in the Harvard Extension School for Creative Writing. Most recent, Smith was elected student body president for 2010-11. As a freshman, Smith recovered from an ACL injury and while she couldn't compete on the field she decided to participate on the nationally ranked Speech and Debate team. When she did return to the pitch a year later, she earned All-Cascade Conference honors and helped the team to a 12-6-2 record where the team finished second in the conference. She has earned Cascade Defensive Player of the Year honors and became the first player in program history to be named to the NAIA All-America Second Team.
Both Kahn and Smith represent the ideals of the NAIA scholar-athlete as evidenced by their scholarship, character, citizenship and athletic ability. To learn more about the NAIA and other national and sport specific awards visit www.naia.org.
About the NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The Association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.
Today, the NAIA strengthens its commitment to student-athletes and strives to enrich their college experience by supporting academic achievement and character development. NAIA Champions of Character is the association's innovative flagship program designed to instill character values in student-athletes, coaches and youth in the communities it serves.
About Daktronics
Daktronics is the Official Scoreboard, Timer, Video and Message Center provider of the NAIA. Daktronics is also the exclusive statistical provider of the NAIA. Daktronics also sponsors the NAIA Scholar-Athlete Awards and provides Web casts for National Championship events. Daktronics designs, manufactures, sells and services dynamic visual communication systems for customers worldwide. Daktronics has installed tens of thousands of scoreboards and display systems in more than 70 countries since 1968 when the company was founded. Daktronics customers are typically sports organizations, businesses of all types and sizes and government entities. To learn more visit www.daktronics.com.