CoSIDA MEMBERS: NOMINATE FOR UPCOMING HAIER AWARDS: You can nominate deserving student-athletes through March 2015 for the new Haier Achievement Award, given to student-athletes across all divisions for their accomplishments beyond sports. CoSIDA members are invited to nominate student-athletes who have achieved something special beyond their chosen sport, particularly in family or community service. The nomination form is available online at http://achieve.haieramerica.com/.
Eight award recipients are chosen throught March 2015. A monthly winner is chosen from November-on, so make sure you have your nominations in NOW to give your athletes the best chance for consideration! Your current student-athletes DO NOT have to be in-season to be nominated!
Haier will make a special presentation to all award recipients, make a donation in the amount of $2,000 to the general scholarship fund at each school and, present the Athletic Department with a Haier 48" Flat Screen television. All nominees will be reviewed by a judging panel comprised of sportswriters, editors, selected members of the CoSIDA Board of Directors, and former college athletes including Isaiah Austin, who has been named Spokesperson of the awards program.
An overall winner from the eight recipients will be chosen in the spring, selected in fan online voting. Haier will present $5,000 to the general scholarship fund and, a Haier 48" Flat Screen television to the Athletic Department at the school of the Haier Ultimate Achievement Award winner.
WAYNE, NJ & ROCHESTER, MI —
Corey Petros, a senior center on the Oakland University men’s basketball team, has been selected as a recipient of the
Haier Achievement Award, which is presented to deserving student-athletes for their accomplishments beyond sports. The announcement of the sixth of eight
Haier Achievement Awards being presented this year was made by John Homlish, senior vice president, Digital Living Business Unit for Haier America, one of the world’s leading television and appliance manufacturers, and Doug Vance, Executive Director of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
“The Haier Achievement Award program brings to light those student-athletes who have achieved success beyond sports,” said Homlish. “By recognizing inspiring student-athletes like Corey we hope to further motivate other young people to achieve and succeed both on and off the field. We commend Corey for using the platform of sports to help others.”
Petros, a graduate of Utica Eisenhower H.S. in Macomb, MI has already earned his B.S. in finance and is currently working towards his MBA. He is a four-time Academic Honor Roll selection, 2014 Academic All-Horizon League and a nominee for the NABC Allstate Good Works team.
Petros has participated in over 50 community service events at Oakland University including reading programs that help elementary students in Detroit, Rochester and Pontiac. He also has volunteered countless hours to help kids at the Michigan Technical Academy; through Brother's Making a Difference (BMAD) in the Recreation Center on Oakland's campus; with the Red Cross; and the Brooksie Way, which promotes healthy lifestyles. Petros also returns to his alma mater Utica Eisenhower High School several times a year to mentor young men and women.
On the court, the 6’-10” 255-lb center is one of the top post players in all of mid-major basketball. He is seconds on the team in scoring and became just the third active NCAA player to surpass 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds and currently leads the Horizon League in field goal percentage and rebounds. During his four years he has increased is scoring average each season. Last year he was recognized as an All-Horizon League second team honoree and led the conference in rebounding and double-doubles.
“This is a blessing to receive this award,” said Petros. “I truly love giving back to the community and outreach to young kids to help them further their future. I have been blessed to be where I am at today and I love to serve and give back my time and life lessons I have learned along the way.”
“I want to congratulate Corey on this prestigious award” said Oakland head coach Greg Kampe
. “Corey has been a model citizen since he got here five years ago. He understands what being a student-athlete is about. Corey will earn his master’s degree as well as having his name in our record book for the way he has played on the court. He is probably as good of a person as I have ever coached. We value academics and community service as well as performance on the floor, and our student-athletes continue to demonstrate that.”
Haier will officially recognize Petros with a plaque and certificate during the Feb. 25 game Senior Night game versus Youngstown State. In addition, Haier will donate $2,000 to the Oakland University general scholarship fund and award a Haier 48-inch LED HD television to the school’s athletic department.
The other Haier Achievement Awards winners announced thus far are:
• Elisha Hande (North Carolina State University) - a three-year member of the women’s tennis team who maintains a 4.0 GPA with a major in economics and a minor in German and has been honored for her work in the community;
• JaCorey Shepherd (University of Kansas) - a football player that is active in the community through Big Brothers, Big Sisters and is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 Second Team honoree
• Richie Suarez (Rowan University) - overcame a diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Avascular Necrosis (AVN) by undergoing 40 months of treatment to prove the doctors wrong and take the mound for the Rowan baseball team for his junior and senior seasons;
• Alysssa Brandt (DeSales University) – a three-year member of the women’s soccer team and four-year track & field athlete has gone on medical missions to help the less fortunate in Haiti, Hondouras and Ghana since she was 15-years-old;
• Averee Fields (West Virginia University) – the Captain of the women’s basketball team has earned All-Academic honors every year and done extensive work in the community with numerous local organizations including Stepping Stones for special needs individuals.
Student-athletes from all sports, all schools, and all divisions are eligible for the Haier Achievement Award. Members of CoSIDA and fans can nominate student-athletes through March 1, at http://achieve.haieramerica.com. Haier will announce eight (8) honorees throughout the year and in mid-March invite fans to vote online for the Haier Ultimate Achievement Award winner. The winner will earn his/her school a $5,000 donation to the general scholarship fund and a Haier 40-inch LED HD television. Additionally, all fans who vote will be entered into a drawing to win a Haier 48-inch LED HD TV.
About Haier
Haier America (
www.haier.com/us/) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Haier Group, the world’s No. 1 major appliance brand as ranked by Euromonitor International 2014, and a global leader in consumer electronics. Haier employs more than 70,000 people around the world and distributes products in more than 100 countries and regions with global revenues reaching $32.1 billion in 2013.
About CoSIDA
CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America,
www.cosida.com) was founded in 1957 and is a 3,000-plus member national organization comprised of sports public relations, media relations and communications/information professionals throughout all levels of collegiate athletics in the U.S. and Canada. CoSIDA has two primary missions: 1) Assist communications and public relations professionals at all collegiate levels with professional development and continuing education, 2) Play a significant leadership and resource role within the overall collegiate athletics enterprise, thus helping other management groups and their respective memberships deal with the set of communications-based issues that is the most complex and challenging in history.