UAPB’s Rucker wins 2015 Walter Payton Achievement Award

COURTESY SWAC.ORG

ORLANDO, Florida  --  The winners of the eighth annual Walter Payton Achievement Award, which is given to one player from each team participating in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney, were announced today by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN. The 11^th annual game, which showcases and celebrates teams from Historically Black Colleges and Universities, will feature the South Carolina State University Bulldogs of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference and the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions of the Southwestern Athletic Conference, kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 6, at the newly renovated Orlando Citrus Bowl and will be televised live on ESPN.

The 2015 Walter Payton Achievement Award winners, voted on by students and fans, are South Carolina State senior tight end Temarrick Hemingway and Arkansas-Pine Bluff redshirt senior safety Kevin Rucker Jr.

First presented in 2008, the Walter Payton Achievement Award is named in honor of the late Walter Payton, a former All-American at Jackson State University (1971 to 1974) and Professional Football Hall of Fame running back who spent his entire NFL career (1975 to 1987) with the Chicago Bears. The award recognizes exemplary student-athletes, shining a light on character and embodiment of team spirit.

Finalists are selected by a committee consisting of academic advisers and coaches from the two participating schools. Voting, open on the MEAC/SWAC Challenge website to students, fans, alumni and fans for a month leading up to the game, closed Wednesday, Aug. 26. Award winners are celebrated at the MEAC/SWAC Challenge kickoff banquet at the Walt Disney World Resort. The award, to be given out this year on Friday, Sept. 4, is regularly presented by Walter Payton’s son, Jarrett Payton.

Past winners of the Walter Payton Achievement Award include, for 2014: Alan Cruz, Alabama A&M, and Quentin Todd, North Carolina A&T State University; 2013: Jonathan Pillow, Florida A&M University, and Kevin Eugene, Mississippi Valley State University; 2012: Bobby Wenzig, Alabama State University, and Arlen McCray-Nibbs, Bethune-Cookman University; 2011: Nesly Marcellon, Bethune-Cookman University, and Raheem Cardwell, Prairie View A&M University; 2010: Kevin Green, Delaware State University, and Gary Hollimon, Southern University; 2009: Van Phillips, Grambling State University, and Zachary Middleton, South Carolina State University; 2008: Kevin Teel, Hampton University, and Marcus Smith, Jackson State University.

Tickets for the game are available via Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com. Special packages for the MEAC/SWAC Challenge and Walt Disney World Theme Park admission can be purchased via this link. For travel packages that include resort accommodations, game tickets, theme park tickets and much more, visit AnthonyTravel.com/MEACSWAC or call 1-888-632-6951. The MEAC/SWAC Challenge presented by Disney is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN. For more information, visit meacswacchallenge.com.

 

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