Lowe's Senior CLASS Awards Criteria In addition to the core requirement that the candidate be a NCAA Division 1 senior, the finalists and eventual winner will be selected based on personal qualities that define a complete student athlete. These areas of excellence are defined under the categories of Classroom, Character, Community and Competition.

Classroom: academic achievements and successfully progressing in regards to earning a degree

Character: attributes that define the candidate's personal character, including leadership skills, work ethic and integrity

Community: involvement in community and charity activities, utilizing the candidate's status as a college athlete to make an impact in worthwhile causes

Competition: achievements within the athlete's respective sport and their role in the success of the team

Baseball 2009

Athletes: Adam Warren Ben Orloff Brandon McArthur Brian Cloud Grant Escue Jason Haniger Matt Nohelty Nate Freiman Nick Faunce Scott Bittle Adam Warren (University of North Carolina)

Classroom A two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III Team member, Adam was also named to the 2008 All-ACC Academic Team. The Dean's List student is also a three-time member of ACC Academic Honor Roll and serves as the Academic Team Captain for the team.

Character Winner of the Three-Dimensional Leader Award from the Carolina Leadership Academy - the program's highest honor, Adam is one of the hardest workers on team and one of its most respected leaders.

Community Adam is active in the community with his teammates in events such as hospital and school visits, as well as the "Share Your Holiday" program. He has also been a part of community outreach events at the College World Series for three straight years such as visits to the Omaha Children's Hospital and Boys Town.

Competition The winningest in UNC history in terms of percentage (.917 with a 22-2 career record), Adam is also ranked second in ACC history. He is among Carolina's top 10 in career wins and enters 2009 as UNC's Saturday starter for the third straight season. In his career, Adam has been to three straight College World Series. Ben Orloff (University of California, Irvine)

Classroom Ben is a model student and is currently doing 40 hours of field work at Culverdale Elementary, tutoring sixth-grade students and serving as a teacher's aide. It is not an observation course and student-interaction is critical. He is required to utilize outlined strategies in the classroom and complete typed reports as well as keep a journal of his experiences. His stories have been positive and his students look up to him, which is true in regards to all his interactions with people. Ben demonstrated his commitment to education when he turned down an opportunity to sign a professional contract with the to come back to UC Irvine and complete his degree. He is currently majoring in criminology, law and society.

Character Ben is a natural leader and the team captain. He has been instrumental contributor to the program's advancement and success during his career at UCI. Last season, the program experienced some upheaval when undergoing a coaching change and Ben was key in keeping the team together while the administration sought a new coaching staff. Ben, who was a junior at the time, along with three other players, devised practice plans and implemented them when fall practices had begun so as not to lose opportunities in preparing for the upcoming season. The practices were structured, disciplined and as well-run as any I have seen conducted by any head coach. Also, a few student-athletes considered transferring to other institutions following the departure of the previous coaching staff, but Ben was among those that reminded the players that they were committed to one another and that it was important to stay together through difficult times. That team remained together and advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals in 2008.

Community During his time at UCI, Ben has been an exemplary representative of the university and the baseball program. His interactions with the community have all been extremely positive. He is a volunteer at his church and most recently participated in a community outreach event in where a handful of the athletes went to the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and spent the afternoon visiting with young children. When dealing with members of the media, Ben is well-spoken, thoughtful, humble and gracious. It is with complete confidence that Ben will always positively about the program and the university, whatever the nature of the question. Because of these qualities, Ben was selected to be one of three student-athletes to represent the UC Irvine Baseball program when it was honored at the annual Best LA Sports Moments awards ceremony last year.

Competition In watching Ben's approach to baseball, he has an amazing work ethic and works at his game constantly. As a freshman, Ben became the starting shortstop midway through the season and never relinquished the role. He has not missed a start since and will carry a 167-game start streak into the 2009 season. He led the nation two consecutive years in sacrifice hits and with continued work in the batting cages, Ben went from a .217 batting average as a freshman to hitting well above .300 his last two years. Last season he finished second on the team, hitting .344. He was the team's starting shortstop in three NCAA Regionals, winning two (at Texas, at Nebraska), two Super Regionals (Wichita State, LSU) and one College World Series, (3rd-place finish). In addition to his superior talent on the field, he demonstrates the highest degree of character every day. He enjoys any competitive opportunity and is humble when he wins and gracious in defeat. He demonstrates the utmost respect for all of his teammates, opponents and the game itself. Ben is a team captain because he possesses the character and intangibles embedded in all great leaders and athletes.

Brandon McArthur (University of Florida)

Classroom McArthur is a sixth-year senior at Florida who is attending graduate school. He has earned a spot on the SEC Academic Honor Roll four-straight times and is one of only three players in school history have collected the academic honor multiple times.

Character McArthur was a 19-year-old freshman at the University of Florida when he was severely injured in a random act of violence on Oct. 30, 2003. A stranger punched him, and McArthur hit his head on the pavement outside of a Gainesville nightspot. He had two brain operations within 24 hours after the attack and later had a third in May 2004 at Tampa General Hospital. He was in a drug-induced coma for five days, and doctors weren't sure if he would survive. McArthur went through an extensive rehabilitation process and returned to the Gator baseball program for the 2005 season after taking a medical redshirt in 2004. For everything McArthur has gone through on and off the baseball diamond, his competitive behavior and never-say-quit attitude are well-respected by the entire Gator community. He is a true leader in every sense of the word, someone who puts the team above any individual accomplishments or awards. While many people going through similar situations might have ended his or her career at the first sign of adversity, McArthur continues to set a positive example through his actions and commitment to the Florida baseball program and the University. His relationships with the coaching staff and teammates are solid and the respect they have for him cannot be measured in words since the coaches and players have the utmost respect for his willingness to sacrifice his body for them. While every student-athlete obviously wants to win every time they step on the playing field, McArthur understands that there are sometimes larger things at work in the big picture of our lives. Although people often say that winning or losing can be a "matter of life and death," he can take a different perspective knowing everything he has overcome to continue playing the sport he loves. Trying to describe his response to victory and defeat can be difficult since there are days when McArthur realizes that just competing with his teammates brings him more satisfaction than any result. His motivation to do the best he can and lead by example are traits which each individual should strive to emulate. In the long run, collegiate athletics can provide life lessons and McArthur's work ethic and attitude illustrate a clear understanding of teamwork and being a role model for everyone around him.

Community McArthur recently received a President's Volunteer Service Award from President George W. Bush's Council on Service and Participation which recognizes McArthur's contributions to the Gainesville community and demonstrating values that "make our nation strong in helping to build a culture of citizenship, service and responsibility in America." President Bush wrote, "Your ability to overcome adversity is a testament to your character, and your compassionate efforts serve as an inspiration to others. You are making our Nation better and stronger, one person at a time." McArthur constantly lends his time and support to a variety of charitable causes. He was named to the 2008 SEC Baseball Community Service Team that highlights an athlete from each school who gives back to his community in superior service efforts. McArthur has been a representative on Florida's Student-Athlete Committee (SAC) and is a frequent speaker at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes meetings. He often visits the pediatric care unit at Shands Hospital (where he was a patient recovering from his life-threatening injuries) and has participated in wheel-chair basketball with Special Olympians. McArthur spoke at "Youth Quake," an organization that provides alternative Christian entertainment that confronts issues relevant to today\'s teenagers and has given speeches at Gainesville middle schools about the importance of doing well in school. In addition, he is a member of the Big Brothers\' organization in which he often brings little kids to practice and brightens their day by having them around the Gator baseball players. McArthur was the keynote speaker at the March of Dimes Health Conference that was held on the University of Florida campus on Dec. 2, 2008. His responsibility was to engage 350 at-risk middle school students by his speech. This was the 20th year for the conference and McArthur was chosen because the group was looking for "an athlete with a motivating story and a person who can teach these children the importance of believing in their dreams." He also participated in the Climb for Cancer Sports Camp last October. The camp, which was held on campus at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center and the Gator football practice fields, allowed children to participate in a number of athletic activities. The camp was made up of four sports venues which included football, basketball, volleyball and soccer. Both the children and student-athletes were able to enjoy themselves in activities ranging from pick-up basketball and volleyball games in the O'Dome, to soccer drills or a game of catch at the football practice fields. Climb for Cancer is a not-for-profit organization that has funded or created several programs which provide support to the patient and family, research grants, and given kids the opportunity to attend camps such as this one.

Competition After taking a medical redshirt in 2004, Brandon McArthur played in 64 games in 2005, making 60 starts at third base, as Florida enjoyed its best season in school history. The Orange and Blue was the runner-up at the NCAA College World Series and captured its first Southeastern Conference championship in seven years, putting together an overall mark of 48-23. McArthur played an integral role in the team's success and was the lone member of the team chosen to the SEC All-Freshman Team after batting .286 in 28 league outings. During his sophomore year in 2006, he participated in 46 of the Gators' 56 games and made starts at second base (25 games), third base (13 games) and as the club's designated hitter (five). As a junior in '07, McArthur underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow after being injured on opening night. After working hard in the off-season to get back into shape, he was enjoying a tremendous campaign before rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee on April 2, 2008. McArthur elected not to have surgery until following the season and batted a remarkable .367 (29-for-79) with 20 RBI over his final 20 games of the year while playing hurt. He wound up setting career-highs in batting average (.337), runs batted in (44), doubles (11) and triples (3) and was a catalyst in UF's first NCAA Regional appearance since 2005. Picked to finish 11th of 12 teams in the SEC, the Gators were second in the Eastern Division and third overall. In voting conducted by the Gator Dugout Club, supporters of UF's baseball program, at the conclusion of last season, McArthur took home two of the four awards. He collected the Mr. Gator Baseball Award, symbolic of the player who most personifies the spirit of Gator Baseball, and the Steve Georgiadis Award, presented to the Gator baseball player who has most overcome adversity. The Georgiadis Award is given in memory of former Gator pitcher Steve Georgiadis, who passed away on March 17, 1990. McArthur underwent successful knee surgery over the summer and is hitting .333 (5-for-15) with a team-leading eight RBI through five games for the 12th-ranked Gators (5-0). Brian Cloud (Texas Tech University)

Classroom Brian's cumulative GPA is a 3.33. Beginning with the spring 2007 semester, he has made the Dean's list every semester (this includes spring 2007). The dean's list requires a semester GPA of a 3.50. Every semester he has earned at least the Big 12 Commissioner's honor roll at Tech. He was selected Second Team Academic All-Big 12 in 2007 and First Team Academic All-Big 12 in 2008.

Character From former pitching coach and personal mentor Lance Brown: "There are two ways of handling adversity. Make excuses and don't work to get better or take responsibility and work to get better. Brian has always taken responsibility for what he has done and then strives to improve. This implies that he has a great work ethic ( sometimes too much throwing) which he does. He encourages teammates and regardless of his role he has always been excited about team accomplishments. I have never heard him second guess how he is being used and in the past when his role was not that big he still supported the team and his teammates. He is conscientious - he works always toward perfection and his truly interested in his team and teammates."

Obstacles During time at Tech - had 4 different pitching coaches. It was very difficult adapting to the coaching styles and requests of 4 different coaches. Operated lawn service the last four years while playing baseball and going to school. Although this doesn't seem like an obstacle, it was difficult.

Community Brian has participated in Race for the Cure activities and has visited elementary students and spoke to them about making the right choices in life. He has volunteered for Texas Tech youth baseball camps and has made appearances to sign autographs for youth. In addition, Brian has made time to visit cancer patients at Southwest Cancer Center at UMC where he took pictures with patients. He also arranged for those same patients to attend a home Texas Tech baseball game and attend a special autograph sesion after the game. Brian uses his summer vacation to speak to youth and sigh autographs at local churches. His summer activities also include serving as a volunteer youth baseball coach.

Competition Brian will be Texas Tech's closer in 2008 after his best season ever as a Red Raiders in 2007. He has logged 53 appearances during his career and 83 innings pitched. He has a 1-2 overall record with a 4.88 ERA including 63 vs. 35 walks. Grant Escue (Bradley University)

Classroom Boasting a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average, Grant was a first-team Academic All-Pac 10 choice at Stanford in 2007 and an honorable mention MVC Scholar-Athlete at Bradley in 2008. He has earned a spot on the Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll in each of his first three semesters at Bradley and was named to the 2008 MVC Honor Roll. Grant was tabbed Country Financial Scholar-Athlete of the Week at Bradley April 8, 2008.

Character Grant plans to enroll in law school with a career goal to enter politics as a public servant. In addition to participating in the Bradley Baseball team's community service activities, he also individually volunteers his time and talent in the community. He also makes time to serve as a Teachers Assistant for PLS 105 (introduction to political science).

Community Grant is active in his community in a variety of ways including assisting with hitting instruction for 8-14 year olds at the Washington (Ill.) Park District. He also speaks to youth and school teams in Washington, Ill., about the importance of staying in school and personal discipline and has made visits to the Fondulac Nursing Home. His volunteer work extents to the Independent Sports Club Wild Game Feed and while playing for the Woodstock River Bandits the past two summers, he read to school children and visited a local day care. As a student-athlete at Stanford, he visited terminally-ill and seriously-ill children at Stanford Hospital.

Competition Leading Bradley with 17 doubles in 2008, Grant was the team's third-leading hitter wtih a .314 batting average in his first year with the Braves. He was second on the team with 21 RBI's in 24 MVC games and finished third on the team with 30 runs scored, 35 RBI's and three home runs. He began his college career at Stanford, where he hit .422 in 15 games as a freshman and .278 in 20 games as a sophomore. Jason Haniger (Georgia Tech)

Classroom The Recipient of the 2009 ACC Postgraduate Scholarship, Jason was tabbed to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District squad in 2008. He is a member of the 2008 Academic All-ACC Baseball Team and a three-year member of the ACC Honor Roll. He was also the recipient of the 2008 Bobby Dodd Scholarship (Georgia Tech's top returning scholar-athlete). Jason has been a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars from 2006-present and was selected to the National College Athlete Honor Society (Chi Alpha Sigma) in 2008. He maintains a 3.53 overall grade point average as a management student at Georgia Tech and has a 3.80 GPA in is management classes, and is receiving a certificate (minor) in finance. Expected to earn his undergraduate degree in December, 2009, Jason would like to attend graduate school in Europe, and in particular Italy, because of their top-ranked business school and the location (access to countries he is interested in visiting). He hopes to gain a management internship in Europe - in particular, Germany - since he is currently studying the language. He also has interests in gaining a developmental internship in Central or South America teaching English and/or leading a cultural diversity program.

Character A 2009 Team Captain (as voted on by the team and coaching staff), Jason is a two-year member of Georgia Tech's Student-Athlete Advisory Board, serving as the Yellow Jacket baseball team's liaison. He is responsible for coordinating the baseball team's community service and marketing activities. In addition, he has served a Yellow Jacket baseball camp instructor from 2006-present, assisting Georgia Tech coaches in the management and organization of the camp while mentoring and instructing campers on the technical skills of baseball. Jason also serves as a mentor to Georgia Tech's two underclassmen catchers. Playing much of his junior season with injury, Jason held off until the end of the year to have surgery. He was forced to undergo two surgeries during the off-season, but returned to Georgia Tech for his senior season despite being selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2008 draft. He is the recipient of the team's "Mr. Hustle" award in 2007 and 2008, as voted on by the coaches. Off the field, Jason is a member of the global student organization AIESEC, which is an international platform for young people to develop their potential so as to have a positive impact in society.

Community Jason coordinated the Georgia Tech baseball team's Toys for Tots collection at a Georgia Tech volleyball match in 2008 - he has also participated in Toys for Tots collections at football and men's basketball events over the last three years. Jason joined his teammates in serving as grand marshals for the 2008 and 2009 Special Olympics State Games and he coordinated the Georgia Tech baseball team's participation as the timers for the roller skating venue at the 2009 Special Olympics State Games. He participated in the 2008 Atlanta-area Elementary Schools Literacy Week, reading to local kids as part of the event. In addition, he organized his entire team's participation in a Halloween party for Egleston Hospital and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta in 2008. His leadership was integral in the team's participation in a Habitat for Humanity day five build project in south Atlanta in 2008. Jason participated in TEAM Buzz (campus-wide community service projects) in 2007 and 2008, assisting in the cleanup of parks in the Atlanta community and the 2007 St. Baldrick's event in which the entire baseball team shaved their heads while raising nearly $9,000 to fund children's cancer research. Competition In his second year as the Yellow Jackets' starting catcher after spending his first two seasons as the primary backup to future Major League star Matt Wieters, Jason had a breakout season in 2008, batting .329 with 10 home runs, 25 total extra-base hits and 34 RBI. He had a .638 and a .415 on base percentage as a junior and was tabbed to the 2008 NCAA Athens Regional All-Tournament team after batting .462 with six RBIs and a pair of home runs in four NCAA Tournament games. Jason hit .403 with six home runs and six doubles over his last 18 games of the season. Overall, he has hit over .300 each of his three seasons at Georgia Tech, batting .330 for his career (he hiit .444 as a freshman in 2006 and .303 as a sophomore). He tallied the first of his career in the 2007 ACC Tournament. Defensively, Jason is also a very good catcher, with a .985 career . Matt Nohelty (Univeristy of Minnesota)

Classroom A two-time Academic All-American (First-Team in 2008 and Third-Team in 2007), Matt is also a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, a three-time Minnesota Top V Male Athlete Award Winner (for being among the top five academically on the men's side of athletics) and a three-time Minnesota Scholar Athlete. He won the Presidential Leadership award which was awarded to only 43 undergrads and two student-athletes and is a three-time Academic All-District award winner and a 4.0 student.

Character Matt has been one of the leaders for the Minnesota baseball program on and off the field for the past three years. He has been extremely dedicated to the program on the field and in the classroom. In the summer of 2007, he was offered a chance to play in the in the summer, but turned it down to intern for Northwest Airlines and build up his career. This past year, Nohelty was drafted in the 18th round by the Minnesota Twins, but decided to come back to school to pursue his Masters in Computer Science and play his senior season at Minnesota.

Community Matt has read to elementary school students and explained the importance of reading to the group. He has also worked numerous baseball camps for children of all ages where he met, talked, and played with children who have had tough childhoods. He has spoken at elementary schools about a variety of topics such as sports, peer pressure, drugs and alcohol and the importance of hard work. In addition, he has worked with the DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program at his old elementary school and has visited very sick children at the hospital and corresponded with them to try to help cheer them up.

Competition First Big Ten outfielder to receive First-Team All-Big Ten honors two years in a row since 2003-04, Matt entered the 2009 season fourth on the Golden Gophers' all-time batting average list at .377 and fourth in stolen bases at 66. He is also third in Minnesota's all-time conference batting average (.395), second in stolen bases in Big Ten play (33), sixth in career hits and fifth in on-base percentage. Last year, he had the highest batting average by a Golden Gopher since 2001 at .397 and had the most hits by a Minnesota play at 94. His 94 hits were the second-most in school history. Nohelty also finished second in the Big Ten in hits and third in batting average in 2008 and was an ABCA First-Team All-Region performer in 2007 and a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American in 2006. Nate Freiman ()

Classroom Nate maintains a 3.92 grade point average as a History major with a minor in Math. A candidate for Academic All American honors he is a two-time Academic All-District III selection and returned to Duke to complete his degree after being selected in the 2008 MLB Draft as a junior. He is a three-time All-ACC Academic Baseball Team honoree and a three-time ACC Academic Honor Roll selection. In addition, Nate is an Academic All-America candidate.

Character An all-around outstanding student-athlete, Nate is a natural team leader on and off the field. He is active in Duke baseball's community service projects and earned the Cape Cod Baseball League's Manny Robello "10th Player" Award during the summer of 2007.

Click below for a great feature on Nate's character from his first season in the Cape Cod League: http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4200&ATCLID=1148682&SPID=1850&SP SID=22847

Community Active in the baseball team's community service projects, Nate has helped out in 10 projects this season, including visits to the Duke Children's Hospital's, the MLK "Million Meals" Event, visits to the Durham Soup Kitchen, the Duke G.R.O.W.S. project, Habitat for Humanity and many others. He helped the baseball team earn the ACC's Top Six For Service Award for the 2007-08 academic year.

Competition Currently ranked second on Duke's career batting average list with a .357 career average, Nate led Duke in average, home runs and RBI for two straight seasons. He was drafted as a junior by the and played in the Cape Cod Baseball League (the top collegiate summer league in the country) for two straight summers. He had a career-high .381 batting average with 11 home runs and 46 RBI as a junior. Nate is also Duke's active leader in batting average, slugging percentage (.577), on base percentage (.321), hits (174), doubles (36), home runs (23) and RBIs (118). He hit .439 with runners in last season and is a career .363 hitter with runners in scoring position. Due to his efforts on the field, Nate has been named a candidate for the . Nate leads the ACC with 15 home runs this season and needs just four more to tie Duke's career home run record.

Nick Faunce (University of Kansas)

Classroom Nick Faunce has been a member of the Academic All-Big 12 First Team the past two seasons and is in line for a third-straight selection. He is on pace to graduate in May, 2009 with a degree in biochemistry and has a cumulative GPA of 3.63.

Character Nick Faunce is leader both on and off the field. He has been voted by his teammates to be one of three senior captains for the Kansas baseball team this season. He is always willing to go the extra yard to help other people, whether it be teammates, coaches, staff members or other students.

Community Nick has been a very committed member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee the past two years. He also volunteered for our big Special Olympics event on Stop Day in December, he also recruited 12 of his teammates to join him.

Competition Nick Faunce has been KU's leadoff hitter the past two years and played spectacular defense in center field. He finished last season with a .326 average in 48 games with nine doubles, three homers, 30 runs scored and a .401 on-base percentage. He is back on track this year, recently collecting a pair of two-hit games in a series at No. 21 Arkansas. Scott Bittle (University of Mississippi)

Classroom Since transferring from North Texas Community College in the fall of 2006, Bittle has been a model student at the University of Mississippi. He has made the UMAA honor roll (3.0 or higher semester gpa) in each of his four semesters: Fall 2006, Fall 2007, Spring 2008 and Fall 2008. He also made the Chancellor's honor roll (3.75-4.00 semester gpa) for the Fall 2007 and Fall 2008 semesters. He will graduate this May with a degree in Psychology. Not only is Bittle a solid student, but he also encourages his teammates to attend classes, tutor sessions and adequately prepare for tests. He has built a good rapport with his instructors and works hard to achieve all A's and B's.

Character Scott Bittle's character can best be summarized by looking at what he has meant to Ole Miss in terms of his community service, his athletic competitive spirit and his academic drive. He has worked diligently to balance the different demands from all aspects of life faced by a student-athlete. Even after being drafted in the second round by the , he has maintained an academic drive and continued to focus on earning his degree. He showed tremendous character following his first season at Ole Miss, bouncing back from a tough season statistically and persevering to then become the SEC leader as a reliever and earning First-Team All-America status. He has never lost sight of what is important when it comes to a sense of community and giving back to those who have supported him as is evidenced through his commitment to community service in the local area.

Community Bittle has been very active in the Oxford and Ole Miss community in his three years on campus. He has been a consistent presence in the area elementary schools as an active participant in the team's "Reading With The Rebels" program with elementary aged children. He has also been a part in the Southeastern Conference Canned Food drive collecting items for local food pantries. He also has taken an active part in the local Jean Jones Cancer Walk to help raise funds to fight cancer. Scott also has made visits to St. Jude Children Hospital in Memphis to visit patients.

Competition This talented pitcher has played a pivotal role in the success of the Ole Miss program over the past three seasons. His head coach has called Bittle "the most dominating pitcher that I have ever coached in all of my years in the coaching profession." His 2008 season, in which he averaged two strikeouts per inning over his 70 innings on the mound, made him one of the most feared in college baseball. "From a competitive standpoint, Scott is one of the most focused, most determined, and surely the most game-controlling pitcher that I have ever had the honor of coaching. To accomplish what Scott has accomplished, and to have done so in the most challenging conference in all of collegiate baseball, is truly amazing."