IU East's Dustin Reynolds named Bill Melton Champion of Character male honoree
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- Indiana University East track and field student-athlete Dustin Reynolds has been selected as the 2018-19 male recipient of the RSC Bill Melton Champion of Character Award. He was selected after a vote from the RSC Champions of Character committee.
Reynolds is a junior from Muncie, Ind., who has made his impact as an all-around student-athlete on the IU East campus. He owns a 3.30 grade-point average and is the president of the school's Student-Athlete Advisory Council and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The RSC Bill Melton Champion of Character Award annually selects one male and one female student-athlete in the conference who is recognized for excellence in academics, athletics and the embodiment of the NAIA Champions of Character values.
The award is modelled after the NAIA's Dr. Leroy Walker Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the national association. It is named for former RSC (then called KIAC) Commissioner Bill Melton, and it promotes and recognizes the core values of the NAIA Champions of Character program: Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Servant Leadership and Sportsmanship.
Nominated by their institution, candidates must be at least a junior with a 3.0+ GPA. Other considerations for the award are campus and community leadership, embracing the five core values and athletic achievement. The award was established in 2015-16.
Reynolds was selected as IU East's Champions of Character honoree on his campus this year as well. Among his many involvements on campus, he is an academic study table monitor helping IU East student-athletes achieve highly in the classroom. His leadership extends to the athletic side of things as well as a captain on the track team.
Reynolds is a four-time all-conference winner in track, and he anchored the Red Wolves 4x400 relay team that won the conference title. He was also a part of the relay team that qualified for NAIA nationals.
"The NAIA has been crucial in my development as an athlete and as a man," said Reynolds in his essay submission for the award. "I've learned lessons that will stick with me my whole life and that I'll eventually teach my children. I'm eternally grateful for the honor to be a Champion of Character."
Reynolds is the second IU East student-athlete to be the male recipient of the award. Vasha Davis was the inaugural male winner for the first year in 2015-16.
YEAR BY YEAR RIVER STATES CONFERENCE BILL MELTON CHAMPION OF CHARACTER AWARD WINNERS
2015-16 -- Vasha Davis (IU East), Men's Basketball
2016-17 -- Zach Bryan (Carlow), Men's Basketball
2017-18 -- Kyle Robinson (Brescia), Cross Country & Track
2018-19 -- Dustin Reynolds (IU East), Men's Track & Field