Blue Jay Athletic Association Awards

The Blue Jay Athletic Association presents annual awards to current or past Elizabethtown College student-athletes, coaches, or athletic supporters. The organization supports the Ira R. Herr Athletic Hall of Fame, Distinguished Alumni Award, the Distinguished Student-Athletes Award, the Joseph A. Whitmore Outstanding Service to Student-Athletes Award, the Rookie of the Year Award, and the Dr. Clair R. McCollough Award. The following awards were added to the program in 2022-23; Team GPA Award, Team Service Award and Most Outstanding Student-Athlete Award.

The Blue Jay Athletic Association Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes Blue Jay student-athletes who, subsequent to graduation, have distinguished themselves above others in making significant professional and/or volunteer contributions to society. Through selfless work and demonstrating exceptional initiative, leadership, generosity, and compassion, Distinguished Alumni Award recipients have touched and improved the lives of others, personifying Elizabethtown College's motto, "Educate for Service."

BJAA Joseph A Whitmore Outstanding Service to SA

The Joseph A. Whitmore Outstanding Service to Student-Athletes Award recognizes a member of the Elizabethtown College community who, like Joseph "Coach Joe" Whitmore, has consistently gone above and beyond the call of duty to touch the lives of Blue Jay student-athletes.

Whitmore has touched countless lives with his enthusiasm for teaching and mentoring, and his sincere interest in each and every student. A member of the Elizabethtown College campus community for more than 50 years, Whitmore has served a number of roles: athletic trainer, coach, educator, and friend. Known for being exceptionally thorough and conscientious in his work, Coach Joe treats every student like a son or daughter and with the greatest care and compassion. He is the first one to pat a student-athlete on the back or see off the team bus with encouraging words.

The recipient of this award, like Whitmore, is extremely dedicated to Blue Jay Athletics, and time and time again has given unselfishly to make the Blue Jay student-athlete experience special.

The Blue Jay Athletic Association Distinguished Student-Athlete Award recognizes Elizabethtown College student-athletes who have distinguished themselves in the areas of academic excellence, athletics achievement, service, and leadership. The recipient of this award demonstrates the ideals of citizenship and sportsmanship, and personifies the College motto "Educate for Service."

The Dr. Clair R. McCollough Award was established in 1970-71 to honor the most-improved senior student-athlete. Per the original award description, the most-improved student-athlete "exemplifies a maturity in the skills, knowledge, and competitive spirit of the game." For an athlete to reach this maturity, he or she must be dedicated to practice, accept coaching and apply it to the game, realize that contributing to the team effort is more important than self-gratification, understand that competitiveness is linked only to aspiring to perform at the highest level you are capable, possess a positive attitude which allows him/her to rise to the occasion physically, mentally, and emotionally and be a courteous winner, gracious loser, and encouraging teammate and leader.

The Most Outstanding Student-Athlete Award was established in 2022-23. This award recognizes the top female and male student-athletes who are deemed to have compiled the most distinctive and/or extraordinary athletic record in the current academic year. Talent, competitiveness, toughness, and sportsmanship are qualities that should be consistently evident.

The Rookie of the Year Award goes to the outstanding first-year female and male student-athlete who exhibit talent; a high level of competitiveness; and consistent mental, physical, and emotional toughness in executing his/her team role. The award is not given on just talent alone.

The Team GPA Award was established is 2022-23 which recognizes the male and female team with the highest cumulative GPA during the particular academic year.

The Team Service Award was established is 2022-23 which recognizes the team that has participated in the MOST IMPACTFUL service project during the academic year.