NAIA Names Mislav Hizak of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.) Recipient of the 2008 Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award

National Award Celebrates Character-Driven Intercollegiate Athletics

Posted on 04.25.08

Contact: Staci Schottman, NAIA Director of Public Relations & Communications, sschottman@naia.org, 816-595-8116

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced today that Mislav Hizak, a student-athlete from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.), has been named the 2008 recipient of the Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award. This award is named after Dr. Walker, President emeritus of the United States Olympic Committee who served as president through the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games. Dr. Walker is a graduate of Benedict College (S.C.) and is a former president of the NAIA.

The award, considered one of the most prestigious awards in the NAIA, honors a student-athlete who excels in athletics and academics and is committed to the Champions of Character program’s five core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship. The NAIA’s flagship character initiative is designed to instill an understanding of character values in sport and provide student-athletes, coaches and parents the training to help them know and do the right things, inside and outside the sports setting. Champions of Character is dedicated to the principle that character is a choice and that being a champion is about reaching your potential and making good decisions consistently in daily life.

Hizak, a tennis All-American, epitomizes the Embry-Riddle Intercollegiate Athletic program’s ideal of “The Package: Student, Person, Player.” As an academic and athletic standout Hizak is pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Aviation Business Administration degree with an Area of Concentration of General Management. In each of his six terms of attendance, he has earned Dean’s List status for which the criteria is a term GPA of 3.50 – 4.00.

“I had the pleasure of having Mislav in my courses in Business Statistics and Decision Mathematics at Embry-Riddle last year. His work was unsurpassed and his work ethic is a model for all students,” said William Grams, Interim Dean, College of Arts and Sciences. “Mislav earned A+ grades in both of my classes, but that is only part of the story. He excelled in all aspects and never lagged in his work, even during tennis season. He is the type of student that every professor loves to have in class.”

Hizak’s accolades are off the chart and include the Steve and Vicky Ridder Endowed Scholarship Award, NAIA A.O. Duer Award, Champions of Character Scholarship Award, Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) James O’Hara Sargent Sportsmanship Award, ITA Arthur Ashe Award for Leadership and Character, NAIA National Singles Champion (2005, 2006, 2007), NAIA National Doubles Champion (2006) and ITA Small College Super Bowl Champion (2005, 2006, 2007). In addition Hizak has been named first team NAIA All-American, ITA All-American, Florida Sun Conference and NAIA Region XIV Player of the Year, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America selection, Academic All-Conference, NAIA Men’s Tennis Scholar, and No. 1 in the Nation in the ITA Singles and Doubles Rankings.

Even with Hizak’s studies and rigorous tennis schedule he finds time tutor on campus, serve as a volunteer for the Halloween Trail, Salvation Army, UNICEF and Toys for Tots and is a member of The Flock a student spirit organization.

“It has been my honor and privilege to watch Mislav break records and set the bar at an unprecedented level both academically and athletically. In my 27 years of coaching and athletic administration, Mislav is the finest example of the Student-Person-Player that I have come across,” said Steve Ridder, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics Director. “His accomplishments on the court may never be matched again at the NAIA level. However, the award that I am most proud to mention is that Mislav was the recipient of the Steve and Vicky Ridder Endowed Scholarship for 2007-08. This scholarship was created to represent the finest student-athlete and the best representative of the Student-Person-Player on our campus.”

As the most decorated men’s tennis player in Embry-Riddle program history, Hizak arrives at practice every day wanting and demanding to get better. His coach says he is the hardest working player and sets the tone for a great training atmosphere. He challenges himself on the court, during conditioning and obtains knowledge to better understand how to compete at an even higher level.

“I consider Mislav as one of those players that a coach gets once, maybe twice if fortunate, in their career. It is a pleasure and privilege to be his coach,” said David Paschal, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach. “He is a fantastic player, however, he even surpasses his tennis abilities with his desire to build his character and others around him.”

As a student-athlete Hizak has discovered a deeper meaning of the NAIA Champions of Character program. He says the five core values have helped him achieve more as a student-athlete.

“It is a privilege for me to play tennis for this university. I truly like that this program praises true sportsmanship before winning or losing a game. Every student-athlete should be fair and a true sportsman no matter the scoreboard,” said Hizak. “The Champions of Character program has helped me to become a better as a student, person and player. I have grown wiser and I have learned from every day situations that there is always space to improve. To adapt the values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship is not an easy task. Nevertheless, this learning process is key to becoming a more motivated and fulfilled person.”

Hizak was selected as the national winner of the Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award from the following list of region award winners: Cody Aker of Concordia University (Ore., Region I); Meghan L. Warkentin of Biola University (Calif., Region II); Melanie Vedvei of South Dakota School of the Mines and Technology (Region III); Sarah Morton of Southwestern College (Kan., Region IV); Teri Jo Quick of William Woods University (Mo., Region V); Nik Rule of William Penn University (Iowa, Region VII); Aaron Davis of Shawnee State University (Ohio, Region IX); and Rebecca Sasscer of Covenant College (Ga., Region XII).

Hizak will be recognized at the NAIA Awards Dinner held in conjunction with the 2009 NAIA Convention in Kansas City, Mo., April 17-21. By recognizing outstanding student-athletes who set the standard with their approach on and off the court, the NAIA furthers its mission to advance character-driven intercollegiate athletics. To learn more about the NAIA visit www.naia.org. To learn more about Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University visit www.erau.edu.
 

NAIA

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) 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.