Asbury's Noah Welch chosen for Bill Melton Champion of Character Award
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- Asbury (Ky.) University men's soccer student-athlete Noah Welch has been selected as the 2019-20 male recipient of the Bill Melton Champion of Character Award from the River States Conference.
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 modeled 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.
As a student-athlete at Asbury, Welch joined with three of his teammates to form Lex Sports Outreach (LSO), a non-profit ministry that targets at-risk youth in Lexington, Ky. The goal is to fulfill physical needs, emotional needs and spiritual needs of the people in Lexington communities. Each week, AU student-athletes had the opportunity to interact with approximately 40 youth in various locations such as Coolavin Park on 6th Street, Winburn Middle School & Community and the Woodhill Community Center.
A four-year player and starter for the Eagles men's soccer team, Welch was a strong student-athlete. He finished is college career with a 3.55 cumulative GPA and a 4.00 in the final semester. He was a four-time all-conference selection and led the team with 10 goals as a senior. He was also credited with being a team leader, team example and a trusted source for teammates with help on the field, in the classroom and in their faith.
YEAR BY YEAR RIVER STATES CONFERENCE BILL MELTON CHAMPION OF CHARACTER AWARD MEN'S 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
2019-20 -- Noah Welch (Asbury), Men's Soccer