BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - For the second time in three years, Illinois Wesleyan senior
Nick Anderson is the recipient of the Elite 89 award for the 2014 NCAA Division III men's basketball championship.
Anderson (Edwardsville, Ill., HS), majoring in business (marketing), currently carries a 3.97 grade-point average. He was presented with the award during the championshp's banquet on Thursday, March 20, the eve of the Titans' national semifinal game against Wis.-Whitewater.
He was also the winner of the award in 2012 when the Titans last played in the national semifinals.
The Elite 89 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
Anderson was one of 118 male nominees for the 2014 Allstate NABC Good Works Teams®, recognizing a select group of college basketball student-athletes from all levels of college basketball who have made significant contributions to the greater good of their communities through volunteerism and civic service. He was selected to the NABC "Honors Court" for academic excellence as a junior. He won a $500 grant and matching funds from State Farm Insurance to start Habitat for Humanity's local Playhouse Project. Anderson has been on the leadership team of the Death Resurrection Life (DRL) campus ministry since his sophomore year and has been a volunteer for Big BrothersBig Sisters since his freshman year.
The Elite 89, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.
For more information on the Elite 89 award winners, log on to
NCAA.com/elite89.
