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Louisville, KY: The NCCAA inducted one new member into the Hall of Fame at the Hall of Fame Banquet during the Annual Convention. Also honored were recipients of the Game Plan 4 LIFE Character Award, Meritorious Service Award, Presidential Award, and Sports Ministries Award.
Hall of Fame
GP4L Character Award: Female Student-Athlete | Male Student-Athlete | Female Athletics Staff | Male Athletics Staff
Meritorious Service Awards
Presidential Award
Sports Ministries Award
John McGillivray, 2017 Hall of Fame Inductee
Hall of Fame Inductee
John McGillivray
Game Plan 4 LIFE Character Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize NCCAA student-athletes and athletics staff who epitomize the Christian character qualities of LOVE, INTEGRITY, FAITH, and EXCELLENCE.
This year’s Game Plan 4 LIFE Female Student-Athlete Character Award recipient is Karen Moe from the University of Northwestern. Karen, a women’s tennis student-athlete, holds a 3.8 GPA in biology. A team captain for 3 years, the senior leads by example on and off the court by bringing maximum effort to practice, workouts, matches, and her studies. Karen has helped lead and facilitate Bible studies for residents in her hall, served as a Huddle Leader at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Leadership Camp, and volunteered at the Red River Valley Dental Access Project.
Karen is the all-time winningest player in school history and is currently undefeated in singles play in 2017. In the NCCAA, Karen has earned the honors of Student-Athlete of the Week, All-Regional, All-American, and All-Tournament, while earning Upper Midwest Athletic Conference honors of Player of the Week, All-Conference, and Player of the Year.
“Karen has such a genuine and contagious love for Jesus and other people,” stated Matt Swigart, Head Tennis Coach. “It has inspired me, significantly impacted her teammates, and had Kingdom impact on her opponents and coaches.”
Dr. Matt Hill, Vice President of Athletics and Student Life, said, “Karen’s faith is the rock of her personhood. The joy of her salvation is infectious and the beginning of many conversations in which she engages.”
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Mid-America Christian University Athletics Director Marcus Moeller accepting on behalf of Malcolm Mann.
This year’s Game Plan 4 LIFE Male Student-Athlete Character Award recipient is Malcolm Mann from Mid-America Christian University (MACU). Malcolm is a men’s basketball student-athlete whose impact goes far beyond his athletic ability. The senior, majoring in psychology, has worked hard to become a better student in the classroom and took heavy loads his last three semesters to ensure he would graduate in May of 2017. Malcolm has led worship and spoken at MACU’s Devo’s After Dark and consistently participates in team devotionals, encouraging teammates in their walk with Christ. Malcolm was elected President of MACU’s Student Government Association and was voted by his peers as the winner of the “Heart of Evangel” award.
Malcolm led MACU to their first ever NAIA National Championship in any sport, hitting the game winning shot in the 2016 championship game. His 184 assists as a junior is a school record for most in a season and his 334 career assists rank fourth all-time in school history (both marks as an NAIA program). Malcolm was named All-Conference in the Sooner Athletic Conference this season.
Josh Gamblin, Head Men’s Basketball Coach, said, “Basketball is very important to Malcolm, but winning lives for Christ is much more important. He represents everything coaches want their program to be about.”
“Malcolm has made a profound impression on the spiritual stamp of our athletic department, and his impact on our campus will be felt long after the memory of his championship game winning shot fades,” stated Athletic Director Marcus Moeller.
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This year’s Game Plan 4 LIFE Female Athletic Staff Character Award recipient is Amy Strong of Trinity Christian College (TCC). Amy has served at TCC for 21 years in a number of capacities including teaching classes, working in the Office of Learning Services, coaching women’s basketball, and, her current roles, serving as Sports Information Director and member of the Athletics Leadership Team. In the 2012-2013 academic year, Amy was named Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference SID of the Year. Amy holds herself to a very high standard, as well as those with whom she works, and her character is evident in everything she does.
“Amy loves the Lord and demonstrates that clearly in both her personal and professional life,” said Bill Schepel, Athletics Director. “She shares her faith with colleagues and students alike. Amy’s experience also allows her to mentor other members of our staff, and she does so with a great deal of care and concern for them personally.”
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This year’s Game Plan 4 LIFE Male Athletic Staff Character Award recipient is Dan George from Grace Bible College (GBC). Dan has served as GBC’s Assistant Basketball Coach for 12 years, even with full-time employment elsewhere. During that time, Dan has led team devotionals which have challenged players each day with new and innovative methods. He is very active in his church and in community service projects in his home town of Cedar Springs, Michigan and surrounding areas. Dan is the only assistant coach in the GBC Athletic Hall of Fame.
Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Gary Bailey stated, “Dan has been an example of the NCCAA’s Game Plan 4 LIFE to all student-athletes at Grace Bible College, not limited to just basketball. He holds himself and the student-athletes to a very high standard.”
“Dan is the ultimate ‘lead-by-example’ man who walks the walk, which is evident on the court, but more importantly, off the court,” said former GBC men’s basketball student-athlete Caleb Combs. “He has left a mark not only in my life, but in the lives of hundreds of other young men.”
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Meritorious Service Awards
| Josh Beers |
Lancaster Bible College |
DII Men's Soccer Chair |
2011-2017 |
| Chad Briscoe |
Grace College |
DI Men's Basketball Chair |
2014-2017 |
| Aaron Brister |
Central Baptist College |
Baseball Chair |
2014-2017 |
| Joshua Miller |
Kentucky Christian University |
DII Women's Soccer Chair |
2014-2017 |
| Rick Renzema |
Grace Bible College |
DII Women's Basketball Chair |
2014-2017 |
| James Whitaker |
Columbia International University |
South Region Coordinator |
2013-2017 |
| Patti Buchta |
Oakland City University |
Softball Chair |
2014-2017 |
| Mark Arthur |
Southwestern Christian University |
Central Region Coordinator |
2014-2017 |
| Pete Beers |
Lancaster Bible College |
BoD | President |
2008-2017 | 2014-2017 |
| Jon High |
North Central College |
President's Designate |
2011-2017 |
| Jack Strong |
|
Pro Am Committee |
1999-2017 |
| Tommy Hancock |
|
Pro Am Committee |
2007-2017 |
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Athletics Director Neal Ring accepting for Bob Jones University
Presidential Award
The NCCAA is pleased to provide an annual All-Sports Award to be presented to one Division I and one Division II member institution. Points are earned based upon a team's finish in an NCCAA National Championship.
Division I Recipient- Oklahoma Baptist University (click here to see final standings)
Division II Recipient- Bob Jones University (click here to see final standings)
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Sports Ministries Award
The purpose of this award is to recognize member institutions having significant spiritual outreach through the utilization of athletic ministries.
This year’s Sports Ministries Award recipient is Columbia International University. Student-athletes and coaches from various sports teams served in multiple ministries throughout the year both domestically and abroad. A list and description of the ministries is below:
Men’s Basketball
- Mission trip to the Dominican Republic through SCORE International
- Urban Discovery Ministries Outreach Basketball Camp
- Serve the community through events such as MLK Day Community Event and playing basketball with local kids to develop relationships with the hope of sharing the Gospel
Women’s Basketball
- Mission trip to Costa Rica through SCORE International
- Play sports at the Department of Juvenile Justice with girls to develop relationships with the hope of sharing the Gospel
- Share their testimony and the Gospel message to the opposing team after preseason games
Men’s Soccer
- Several traveled on mission trips to Germany and Cuba with Missionary Athletes International (MAI) and the Charlotte Eagles
- Run clinics and then share the Gospel through skits, testimonies, etc.
- One member is raising support to go on staff with the Chicago Eagles and MAI, while 2 graduates from last year are currently on staff with MAI
Women’s Soccer
- Mission trip to the Dominican Republic with MAI
- Built relationships with a local refugee soccer community with the hope of sharing the Gospel
- Served at programs for the underprivileged and students with disabilities
- Coached in local programs and helped at the Chicago Eagles’ summer academy
Men’s & Women’s Cross Country/Track
- Mission trip to Detroit, Michigan through CRU Inner City in which they fed homeless, visited schools, did medical work, and participated in after-school programs
- Members of the women’s team volunteered with a local ministry that supports abused and battered women
- Members of the men’s team volunteer to help coach at a local high school
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