Butler's Mitchell, UW-Milwaukee's Jallow Receive Coleman Medal of Honor Award

June 30, 2005

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

Indianapolis, Ind. -- Victoria Mitchell, a member of the Butler University women's cross country and track and field teams and Antou Jallow, a member of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's soccer team, have been named recipients of the 2004-05 Horizon League Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor.

"We are exceptionally proud of what Victoria and Antou have accomplished in their collegiate careers," said Horizon League Commissioner Jon LeCrone. "While athletes so often get praised for their work on the court or on the field, the Coleman Award recognizes athletes for their character and tireless efforts in the classroom and community. These two exemplify what our four platforms are all about."

The Horizon League's highest individual honor, the Coleman Award is presented annually to the Horizon League's top male and female student-athletes who best exemplify the dignity and high purpose of the Horizon League and its membership.The individuals demonstrate outstanding achievement in academics, athletics and extracurricular activities. Candidates must be a senior who has exhausted his/her eligibility and was a participant on the varsity level in a League-sponsored sport. In addition, nominees must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent.

Mitchell becomes the second Butler student-athlete in three years to receive the Coleman Award. Last month, Mitchell won the 2005 NCAA Division I 3,000-meter steeplechase and became the first Butler athlete to win an individual national championship in 73 years. Last year, Mitchell was named the 2004 Horizon League Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year and earned 2004 Horizon League Cross Country Athlete of the Year honors after becoming the 2004 Horizon League cross country individual champion. She holds Horizon League track records in the 1,500-meter run, 5,000-meter run and 3,000-meter steeplechase. She is a five-time Horizon League individual track champion and holds school records in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, 5,000-meter run and the indoor distance medley. She was also named the Outstanding Performer (running events) at the 2004 Horizon League Track and Field Championships.

On the academic side, Mitchell was named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team, the 2005 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA District V All-Academic Team and to the 2004-05 Horizon League Academic All-League Team. She was named to the Butler Athletic Director's Honor Roll in 2004 and 2005 and to the Butler 4.00 Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall of 2004 and spring of 2005.

This past spring, Mitchell and teammate Nick Goodliffe collaborated to develop the first Indiana Para-Athlete track and field meet, held in Indianapolis on May 21. She was also active in assisting Butler head coach Joe Franklin's cancer fund-raising project and contributed to the Butler sports camps.

"Victoria is completely selfless. She puts everyone above herself," stated Franklin. At the 2004 Horizon League Track and Field Championships, Mitchell won four events, set two League records and was named the meet's Outstanding Performer for Running Events. She celebrated that performance by assisting the clean-up crew with trash pick-up after the meet.

Jallow becomes the first UWM student-athlete to receive the Coleman Award since Milwaukee's Jonathon Manke and Erin Blaedow received the award on both the men's and women's sides in 2001-02. Jallow topped off his collegiate career as the Panthers' and the Horizon League's all-time leading goal scorer with 60 goals and earned 133 career points. He was named the 2004 and 2002 Horizon League Player of the Year and earned All-Horizon League First Team Honors in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Also in 2002, he was named National Soccer Coaches Association Third Team All-American and First Team All-Region. In 2001, he earned Horizon League All-Newcomer honors.

Jallow has excelled in the classroom by being named to the 2004 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American First Team as well the 2004 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District Team. Also in 2004, Jallow was part of the National Soccer Coaches Association/Adidas Third Team Scholar All-American Team. In 2003, he was a member of the ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American Second Team and was named 2003 ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team. He is a three time Academic All-Horizon League honoree and a four time UWM Scholar-Athlete with Distinction.

In his free time, Jallow took part in elementary and middle school speaking engagements and reading programs. He has participated in neighborhood clean-up activities, Toys for Tots and has been active in clothing drives. Jallow also has contributed his time to the renovation of buildings for a local youth soccer program and with youth soccer clinics.

"Antou has been an outstanding student-athlete, excelling in the classroom and on the soccer field as well as representing the University and the Horizon League in other endeavors," according to Deanna D'Abbraccio, UW-Milwaukee's Senior Woman Administrator. "He truly has been an exemplary role model for other student-athletes and young people. He has quietly led by example, but speaks articulately when he thinks it is necessary. His teammates, fellow student-athletes in other sports, coaches, professors, and administrators respect him for his ideals and accomplishments."

Jallow has signed a professional contract with the Swedish Premier League and was drafted by the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer.

Each Horizon League institution had the opportunity to nominate a male and a female student-athlete. The other nominees were Butler's Andrew Sherman (cross country/track and field); Cleveland State's Gabriel Linton (men's swimming and diving) and Jamie Bouyer (volleyball); Detroit's Ablaye Camara (men's soccer) and Alisson Dube (women's soccer); UIC's Mike Bruszer (baseball) and Cameron Astiazaran (softball); Loyola's Laith Hoffarth (men's track and field) and Allison Scanlin (softball); UW-Green Bay's Matt Rohde (men's basketball) and Tiffany Mor (women's basketball); UW-Milwaukee's Karen Fruit (volleyball); Wright State's Kevin Teufel (men's tennis) and Milda Zilinskaite (women's swimming and diving); and Youngstown State's Jim Phillips (baseball) and Kalyn Leveto (women's swimming and diving).