Asbury's Autumn Herriford selected for Bill Melton Champion of Character Award
MIDDLETOWN, Ohio -- Asbury (Ky.) University women's basketball student-athlete Autumn Herriford has been selected as the 2019-20 female 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, and the honoree is selected after a vote of the RSC Champions of Character Committee.
Herriford is a standout player on the Eagles' women's basketball team and is also a star performer in the classroom and the community as an overall strong student-athlete. She carries a 3.97 career GPA and is an all-conference honoree on the court.
Her community service efforts are highlighted by her dedication to mission trips to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico each summer. In that capacity, she serves those communities through her acts, faith and leadership in order to make a difference. She is also looked to as a team leader in many ways and as a well-respected player around the conference due to her attitude and play.
YEAR BY YEAR RSC BILL MELTON CHAMPION OF CHARACTER AWARD WOMEN'S WINNERS
2015-16 -- Sarah Bonar (Rio Grande), Women's Basketball
2016-17 -- Kaitlyn Smith (Point Park), Women's Basketball
2017-18 -- Courtney Reels (Brescia), Volleyball
2018-19 -- Alex Satterfield (Brescia), Volleyball
2019-20 -- Autumn Herriford (Asbury), Women's Basketball