B.S. in biochemistry; minor in biology
Upper Arlington, Ohio

Presentation Remarks:

Dan, during your four years here, you have made Denison proud to claim you as the epitome of a disciplined athlete and a dedicated scholar.  You have been described as a great student who embraced learning and knowledge for its own sake and successfully served in your Chemistry major as a lab assistant and tutor.  In football, as a freshman you were named Rookie of the Year and were a successful running back for the next three years, scoring 16 touchdowns and rushing for more than 1,400 yards in your career.  You were unanimously chosen as captain by your teammates.  In 2010, you received the National Football Hall of Fame Foundation Scholar Athlete Award, the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine All-District Selection and the “Heart of the Team” Award for the teammate who sets an example of dedication, motivation, desire and courage, and is also the athlete who pushes teammates to be the best on the field, in the classroom and in life. That same month you were one of five out of 2,000 athletes across the country in Divisions I, II and III to be named a John Wooden Citizenship Finalist as an outstanding role model among athletes who make the greatest difference in the lives of others. As a member and then two-time president of the Denison University Student Athlete Advisory Council, you worked hard to attain the goals of the council.  You led the National Student Athlete Day in spring 2010 in which more than 125 children from the local community participated in a four-hour sports clinic. Last fall, you established a “Pay It Forward” challenge, which encouraged Denison athletes from all 23 varsity teams to become involved in individual and team-based community service initiatives. This academic year’s goal was 1,000 hours of service, and is close to being met. You also organized the Salvation Army’s Christmas Cheer Adopt-a-Child holiday toy drive, which raised $2,700 to provide gifts for 54 underprivileged children. You also were chosen as a member of Mortar Board and Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Health honorary. With this medal, we honor your dedication to Denison, and we are proud that you have been selected for Teach for America in Chicago next year, where a very fortunate group of children will benefit from your example, intelligence, enthusiasm and dependability.

Student Achievements:

2011 Teach For America Corps, Chicago; Battelle Memorial Institute Foundation Scholarship; Mildred Klinger Sanders Award (Biochemistry Award); Alpha Epsilon Delta (Pre-Health Honorary); Mortar Board; Varsity Football - Co-Captain, Player Advisory Panel Member, Conference Runner-Up and Team Offensive Rookie of the Year, Coach Wooden Citizen Cup Finalist, National Football Hall of Fame Foundation Scholar Athlete Award, ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection; Denison Student-Athlete Advisory Council (DSAAC) – President, ‘09-‘10 Male DSAAC Standout Award, Soles4Souls Initiative - Organizer, Student Athlete Day – Organized, Salvation Army’s Adopt-a-Child holiday Initiative - Leader; NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Conference Representative - Chicago; Distinguished Leadership Award; Department of Chemistry - Lab Assistant; Academic Support and Enrichment Center - Chemistry Tutor; Department of Athletics - Training Room Manager, Student Manager