Oklahoma State University Athletics
Bank Of America Community Champions Are Announced
October 15, 1999 | General
Oct. 15, 1999
DALLAS - Devon Magness, Mercy Morrical, and Doug Gottlieb from Oklahoma State University have been selected as Bank of America Community Champions, and are finalists for the Community Champion of the Year award. These student athletes' selection was based on their accomplishments in Big 12 Conference athletics and in the community. Gottlieb is a senior, and Magness and Morrical are juniors. In recognition of excellence, Bank of America is proud to make a $3,000 contribution to Oklahoma State's general scholarship fund.
"This program recognizes student athletes for an effort that many times goes unnoticed, being a good student and giving back to the community," said Roger B. Whaley, President of Bank of America Oklahoma. "Community involvement is important to us at Bank of America and we are proud to recognize these athletes who are champions on the field and in their communities."
The Big 12 Conference and Bank of America will also honor these deserving student athletes with a special feature on the Conference's weekly television show, the Big 12 Showcase, and with a presentation at an Oklahoma State athletic event later this year.
Each of these student athletes have made tremendous contributions to their teams and to their local communities. Magness is a center on the Oklahoma State women's basketball team. The junior has two career double-doubles, each time accomplishing the feat with points and rebounds. She was also a member of the 1999 Big 12 Basketball All-Star Team that toured Europe this summer. Magness is an education major, and has earned a 3.18 G. P. A. during her first three years in Stillwater. She was named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll, as well as the OSU President's Honor Roll. She has also won the Oklahoma State University Academic Achievement Award for three consecutive years. When Magness is not studying or practicing, she jumps at the chance to volunteer for a variety of projects and opportunities. She is a member of the Student Athlete Board, and is that group's president this year. She also volunteers for a variety of organizations, including Special Olympics and the Adopt -A-Player program. She has used her status as a student athlete to try to influence children through speaking appearances and basketball clinics.
Gottlieb is a starting guard on Oklahoma State's men's basketball team. He is the most prolific passer in OSU history, holding the school record for assists as a junior with 500. In 1999, he led all NCAA Division I players in the nation with 8.8 assists per game. He also set Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament records in 1999 with the most assists in a game, 14, and the most assists in the tournament, with 38. He earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors in 1998/1999. Gottlieb has been a tremendous role model off the court, as well. He dedicated himself to a second grade classroom last year, as a part of the Adopt-A-Player program, visiting them virtually every week. He made a personal connection with the children, to the point that he rounded up OSU basketball tickets for them so that they could get the chance to see a Cowboys basketball game. He has taken his star status on the court and used it to make a difference in the lives of childrn.
Morrical is a two-year starter as a midfielder for Oklahoma State's soccer team. She broke onto the team in 1997, winning OSU Soccer Newcomer of the Year honors that year. She is majoring in education, and is a recipient of the OSU Academic Achievement Award. Morrical is also a quiet community leader, who is constantly trying to make a difference without calling attention to herself. She was a volunteer with the "Child Watch" Trick or Treating program and the AFCA Child ID Distribution program. She spent many hours last year as a volunteer for the NACDA Campus Pals program. She has also spent a great deal of time speaking and interacting with children at various elementary schools.
This is the second year of the Community Champion program, created by Bank of America to honor athletes from each school in the Big 12. The Bank of America Community Champion Award is based on student athlete's contributions on and off the field. This includes athletic background and accomplishments, academic merits, involvement in community organizations and contributions to the school and community in other areas. Each Big 12 school nominated student athletes this summer, and a panel of Big 12 and Bank of America representatives selected the winners. Three winners from each Big 12 school will be selected and honored over the next year. As a part of this program, $3,000 will be given to each school's general scholarship fund. Each Bank of America Community Champion is also eligible to be selected the Bank of America Community Champion of the Year. Bank of America will contribute another $5,000 to the Community Champion of the Year's university.
To date, Bank of America has donated over $80,000 to Big 12 universities through this program.
The Bank of America Community Champion is featured weekly on the national broadcast of Big 12 Showcase, check local listings for show times or visit the Big 12 Conference website, www.big12sports.com.
