Ryan Whittum Named Recipient of the 2012 GLIAC Jack H. McAvoy Award

Release Courtesy Of GLIAC

Northwood University senior linebacker Ryan Whittum has been named recipient of the 2012 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Jack H. McAvoy Award as announced by Commissioner Dell Robinson. The award is presented annually to the GLIAC football player who best combines outstanding character and leadership on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.

A native of Livonia, Michigan, Whittum earned a 3.69 grade point average (4.0 scale) while majoring in banking/finance, economics, and management. He has been named GLIAC All-Academic Excellence team twice as well as GLIAC All-Academic twice. Whittum has been on the NU President's list three times, the Dean's list every semester and is a member of the National Honor Society. He was one of just two players in the GLIAC to be nominated for the AFCA Good Works Team this past season. Whittum is an active member of the community and volunteers in his spare time at Big Brothers-Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, and the Cure for Cancer program, among other charities.

This season, Whittum was a key part of the Timberwolves defense. He recorded 93 tackles (8.45 per game), 7.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, an interception, an interception return for a touchdown and a blocked kick. In his career he played in 43 games, recorded 249 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, two blocked kicks, and had two interception returns for a TD.

"The GLIAC is proud of the accomplishments of Ryan Whittum,"stated Commissioner Robinson. "Whittum exemplifies outstanding class and caliber of the student-athletes that we have in the GLIAC. The Jack McAvoy Award provides a platform that allows his accomplishments to be recognized regionally and nationally. The GLIAC is proud to honor Ryan Whittum as our McAvoy Award recipient."

Whittum becomes the second Northwood student-athlete to win the award joining Scott Stuible who earned the award in 2003. Ferris State University has had the most recipients of the award (4), with Michigan Technological University, Saginaw Valley State University, Hillsdale College, Northwood and Wayne State University all have two apiece. The Award is named for former Hillsdale College director of athletics and head football coach, Jack McAvoy, who was instrumental in the founding of the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (MIFC), now known as the GLIAC.