Oct. 24, 2008
CLEVELAND - Former Northern Illinois linebacker Keenan Blalark, who compiled over 200 tackles for the Huskies from 2002-2006, has been named one of five winners of the ninth annual John McLendon Memorial Minority Postgraduate Scholarship Awards by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).
Blalark will receive a $10,000 grant to be used towards postgraduate studies in athletics administration.
"My heart started pounding when I got the letter, it started pounding because I knew I was a finalist," Blalark said. "I was like 'alright, please God let this be a good letter.'"
The letter informed Blalark he was one of five winners of the annual scholarship. He is the first Northern Illinois student, as well as the first from a Mid-American Conference institution, to earn the McLendon Scholarship.
"I read like the first few words 'We would like to congratulate you,'" he said. "It was amazing. I was really excited, very excited."
Blalark attended NIU where he earned an undergraduate degree in psychology. While at Northern Illinois, Blalark was a member of the Huskie football team and was named as a position captain during his senior year. A walk-on as a freshman, Blalark finished his NIU career with 211 career tackles, including 96 as a senior. Blalark also picked-up six tackles for loss and two sacks in his final season.
Aside from his athletics activities, Blalark volunteered as a guest reader at Parkview Elementary school. He also shared his musical talents as a full-time saxophonist for Living Gospel Church of God in Christ. Blalark was a member of the Dean's list and also received the Jawan Jackson Memorial Award which is given annually to a former walk-on who makes the greatest impact on NIU's football team. He is currently attending graduate school at his alma mater, where he is pursing a master's degree in sports psychology. Upon the completion of his graduate work at NIU, Blalark plans to pursue an additional master's degree in sports administration. A native of Elgin, Ill., Blalark came to Northern Illinois from Larkin High School.
The John McLendon Memorial Minority Postgraduate Scholarship Awards are presented to senior-level minority students who intend to pursue a graduate degree in athletics administration. Students were required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and have demonstrated leadership qualities on an institutional or community level. Other awards winners this year are Alejandra Diaz-Calderon of Notre Dame, Keunta Miles of Central Florida, Araceli Ortiz from Stanford, and Oklahoma graduate Carl Pendleton II.
The awards are named for John McLendon, an intercollegiate athletics pioneer who was the first black coach hired by a predominantly white institution (Cleveland State) and went on to play a huge role in the integration of college basketball as a coach and administrator.
"John McLendon is a great man," said Blalark . "I'm just really blessed to be awarded this scholarship in his name."
Funding for the scholarship program has been provided in part by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA); the Cleveland Cavaliers; Major League Baseball (MLB); the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC); the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA); the National Basketball Association (NBA); the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA); and Sears, Roebuck and Co.
NACDA, now in its 44th year, is the professional and educational association for more than 6,500 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.
