June 29, 2006

CLEVELAND - Following a prolific career in cross country and track, the Mid-American Conference announced that Miami University's David Mitchell (Woodridge, Ill.) has been tabbed as the 2006 male recipient of the Bob James Memorial Scholarship. Mitchell, who receives a $1,000 postgraduate scholarship for winning the award, is the fifth Miami athlete to earn the honor since its inception in 1989.

During his career with the Red and White, Mitchell was a national qualifier in both cross country (2003 and 2004) and track (2003), earning All-America status in 2003 after finishing 30th at the national cross country meet. Mitchell was a three-time all-MAC selection in cross country and twice finished as the individual runner-up at the MAC Championship. He also garnered all-MAC honors as a sophomore in track. Mitchell earned numerous conference and national academic honors while at Miami, including CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Third-Team Academic All-America honors (2005) and Academic All-District accolades (2004 and 2005). Mitchell additionally was a three-time academic all-MAC selection.

An English literature and political science major who graduated with a 3.83 grade-point average, Mitchell was a member of the Miami Honors and Scholars Program, made the President's List (4.0 GPA) for three semesters and earned a spot on the Dean's List (3.5 GPA) for eight semesters. As an undergrad in 2005, Mitchell also was published in the Duke Journal of Comparative and International Law.

For his postgraduate studies, Mitchell will study international and human rights law at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, one of the most prestigious law schools in the nation. According to a U.S. News and World Report study entitled "America's Best Graduate Schools for 2007," UC Berkeley ranks as the eighth-best law school in the nation.

Prior to Mitchell, the last Miami student-athlete to win the Bob James Memorial Scholarship was cross country and track standout Andrea Kremer in 2004. Other previous winners from Miami were Nick Iagulli (2001; men's track and field), Cato Coleman (2000; men's track and field) and Dustin Swinehart (1996; men's soccer).

Given annually to one male and female student-athlete in the MAC who achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 and exhibited good character, leadership and citizenship, the Bob James Memorial Scholarship honors athletes who excel athletically and academically. Student-athletes are nominated during the academic year in which they complete their final season of eligibility, and the winners are voted by the Faculty Athletic Representatives from the conference schools. The award is named for Bob James, the MAC's second commissioner who served from 1964-71. The 2006 female recipient of the award was Marie Zidek of Northern Illinois.

Bob James Memorial Scholarship Honorees

2006 David Mitchell, Miami Cross Country/Track & Field and Marie Zidek, Northern Illinois Volleyball

2005 Burke Badenhop, Bowling Green Baseball and Robin Davidson, Toledo Soccer

2004 Travis Barclay, Ball State Football and Andrea Kremer, Miami Track & Field

2003 Brett Faustman, Central Michigan Wrestling and Katrina Kerns, Bowling Green Track & Field

2002 Anthony Malik, Bowling Green Soccer and Kate Miller, Kent State Basketball

2001 Nick Iagulli, Miami Track & Field and Jennifer Jarjosa, Bowling Green Swimming

2000 Cato Coleman, Miami Track & Field and Laura Szczepanski, Ball State Gymnastics

1999 Justin Millard, Akron Soccer and Wendy Feldman, Central Michigan Volleyball

1998 Desmond Johnston, Akron Soccer and Janelle Tranquillo, Ball State Field Hockey

1997 Joseph Burch, Bowling Green Soccer and Sarah Mikrut, Ball State Gymnastics

1996 Dustin Swinehart, Miami Soccer and Kristin Gaddis, Bowling Green Cross Country/Track

1995 Stephen Fetyko, Eastern Michigan Swimming and Dana Drew, Toledo Women's Basketball

1994 Bob Dudley, Bowling Green Football and Kris Parks, Ohio Cross Country/Track

1993 Sander Scott, Central Michigan Men's Basketball and Kelly Weir, Ohio Women's Basketball

1992 Jeff Bender, Central Michigan Football and Julie Young, Western Michigan Volleyball

1991 Pat Jackson, Bowling Green Football and Kristin McDaniel, Kent State Track & Field

1990 Danny Rieman, Ball State Baseball and Linda Popovich, Bowling Green Volleyball

1989 Rick Winegardner, Ball State Swimming and Kim Keenan, Kent State Cross Country/Track