Davis nets KIAC Bill Melton Champion of Character male student-athlete nod
FLORENCE, Ky. -- Indiana University East senior men's basketball player Vasha Davis is the 2015-16 male recipient of the KIAC's Bill Melton Champion of Character Award, the conference announced on Tuesday.
Davis is a native of Hammond, Ind., who led the Red Wolves to an outstanding season both on and off the court. Davis led IU East to the NAIA Division II national semifinals as a top player and also provided a great example with his community service.
The KIAC's Bill Melton Champion of Character Award is named after the former KIAC commissioner, who was in that role for many years and up through the July 2015. The award is modeled after the NAIA's Dr. Leroy Walker Award and promotes and recognizes the core values of the NAIA's Champions of Character program which are respect, responsibility, integrity servant leadership and sportsmanship.
Nominations are made by KIAC member athletic departments, and voting is conducted by the KIAC awards committee, which a group made up of athletic directors, coaches and sports information directors around the conference. One male and one female recipient of the Bill Melton Champion of Character Award will be selected each year.
On the court, Davis averaged 12.5 ppg as a KIAC all-conference performer for the Red Wolves. IU East's season was highlighted by a run to the national tournament final four. Davis played a key role and earned the NAIA Division II Men's Basketball "Hustle Award" for his play in the tournament.
The IU East team and head coach Mark Hester was also bestowed with the 2015-16 Buffalo Funds-Five Star Champions of Character Team Award for NAIA Division II Men's Basketball, which is the equivalent of winning the national championship for Champions of Character efforts.
Davis was leading the way for the Champions of Character Team Award as a senior. Said coach Hester on Davis in the nomination form, "During his four years at IU East, Vasha has grown more as a person than anyone I have ever coached in my 16-year career. His commitment to not only becoming the best person he can be by following the NAIA's five core values but also by sharing those values and being a living example of each one."
Davis was selected as one of nine IU East students to be a guest speaker in the Philanthropy Outreach dinner and also participated in the IU East Bicentennial campaign as a representative of the school. He was also an Admissions Ambassador at the school, a member of the Student Activity Advisory Team and a volunteer at Twin Valley City elementary school.
Academically, Davis was a KIAC All-Conference Scholar-Athlete and member of the IU East Dean's List several times. He was a multi-time KIAC all-conference performer on the court.
For more information on the KIAC, visit KIACSports.com. On July 1, 2016, the KIAC will have its name change to the River States Conference. #KIAC #NAIA #ReSpeCt