Jan. 26, 2004

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue senior wide receiver John Standeford has been named one of six recipients of the prestigious Woody Hayes National Scholar Athlete Award.

One male and one female student-athlete each from Division I, II and III are selected by the University & Northwest Sertoma Club of Columbus (Ohio) for the award, which recognizes excellence in academics, athletics and community service.

The winners will be recognized Feb. 6 during a banquet at the Villa Milano Restaurant in Columbus.

Standeford, an elementary education major who presently is student teaching at Attica High School, is a two-time first team Academic All-American and three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. He is the Big Ten career leader with 266 receptions and 3,788 receiving yards. This year, Standeford served as coordinator of the football team's Gentle Giants program, a group of players who visit area elementary schools. He has been active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, is a two-time recipient of Purdue's Big Ten Sportsmanship Award and received the team's Kiwanis Citizenship Award this season.

Standeford was a finalist for the 2004 Socrates Award, a similar honor that salutes excellence in academics, athletics and citizenship.

The other five winners of the Woody Hayes National Scholar Athlete Award are:

Division I Woman - Kara Lawson, Basketball, Tennessee
Division II Man - Keith Heckendorf, Football, St. Cloud State
Division II Woman - Cheryl Balogh, Soccer, Mt. Vernon Nazarene College
Division III Man - Jesse Harris, Basketball, Simpson College
Division III Woman - Melissa Roberts, Softball, Emory

The six honorees hold a total of 63 all-conference, all-region and All-America titles and a combined grade-point average of 3.8. More than 65 community- and university-based organizations have benefited from their community service activities.

"Once again, our class is a strong group of which Woody would have been very proud," awards co-chair Eric Parks said. "Our future leaders are well-rounded and well-prepared for what lies ahead."

Tickets for the event are available by calling 614-268-4003.

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