Baldwin Named NCAS PlayMaker of the Month – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/8/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 8, 2014
Orlando – Darryl Baldwin from The Ohio State University and Rebekah Land from the University of Nebraska have been awarded the male and female (respectively) NCAS PlayMakers of the Month Award for December 2014. The PlayMaker of the Month Award recognizes the academic achievement and community service efforts of student-athletes at NCAS member institutions. Current student-athletes are nominated by their coaches, administrators, and teammates, they must carry a 3.0 grade point average, and they must be active participants in community/volunteer services and/or social change advocacy.
Baldwin is a graduate student on the Buckeyes football team. Baldwin graduated in May 2014 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, specializing in marketing with a 3.116 grade point average. During his undergraduate career, Baldwin was a three-time Ohio State Scholare-Athlete, and was named to the Dean’s List and Academic All-Big Ten team several times. He is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Sport Management.
Baldwin frequently volunteers with the “Second and Seven Foundation,” a non-profit organization that promotes literacy and positive role models for children in central Ohio. Baldwin has logged countless hours of reading to elementary school children, promoting literacy and the value of education, and using his student-athlete status to serve as a positive role model for young students. Baldwin also has provided outreach service at the Chalmers P. Wylie VA Ambulatory Care Center, “Pay It Forward,” MidOhio Foodbank and LifeCare alliance, and at the Special Olympic Goodwill Games.
Land is a senior on the Nebraska Huskers’ Swimming and Diving team. As a leader and role model in the athletic department, Land is the Outreach Liaison for her team; assisting the Life Skills department with tracking her teammates’ volunteer commitments. As a result of her leadership, the Swimming and Diving team has won the Women’s Life Skills Team Competition Award the past three consecutive years. Land has been named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2014), on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2012, 2013; Spring 2014), and named as a recipient of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2013-2014). Recipients must have completed a minimum of six service projects in the academic calendar year to be nominated. Land is carrying a 3.012 grade point average.
For 29 years, the mission of the NCAS has been to “use the power of sport to effect positive social change.” We educate and empower individuals and organizations by inspiring values-based thinking leading to actions that promote social responsibility and equality. Through Dr. Lapchick’s leadership, the NCAS has improved college student-athlete graduation rates, advocated for issues of diversity that plague athletic organizations, and created programs to affect social change in sports and society.
Congratulations to Darryl Baldwin and Rebekah Land for their dedicated efforts of “Changing Lives Through the Power of Sport.”
For more information about the NCAS PlayMaker of the Month Award or to nominate a student-athlete for a PlayMaker of the Month Award, visit the NCAS website at www.ncasports.org
