Troy White
Northern Illinois third baseman Troy White, a native of Chicago, Ill., was named one of 30 candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award.
The award is annually given to an NCAA Division I senior with notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition.
“Troy is a fit candidate for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award,” said head coach Ed Mathey. “He’s a quality young man, a good student, a good leader and a good player, which is what counts with this award. We’re very proud of him and his family, and we’re fortunate to have him here at Northern Illinois University.”
White, a business management major with a cumulative GPA of 3.36, is one of the team’s captains this season, a returning second team All-Mid American Conference player and Academic All-MAC. Off the field, White is a Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholar and is involved with his church back home in Chicago.
Before coming to NIU, he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians and, in his own words, decided to continue his eduction because “going to school to get my education was big for me and my family. I believe college is the best bet over the minor leagues.”
Following college, White would like to pursue a career in professional baseball. If those dreams do not come to fruition, he would like to open a baseball academy for inner-city Chicago youths, training players and educating them on the many endeavors within the world of sports away from the playing field.
He is one of two players from the Mid-American Conference to named to this year’s list and the first NIU baseball player since Scott Simon (2007) to receive distinction. He is the second Northern Illinois athlete this season, after quarterback Chandler Harnish, to be named a candidate for the award.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, Division I head coaches and fans who will select one finalist who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
For more information on NIU baseball and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.
