​Chippewas win Cartwright award, become first school to earn honor twice


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Concord junior Spencer Nousain, left, recieves tutoring in math from Indiana junior Tyler Danner, right, Feb. 26 in the Indoor Athletics Complex. 

For the second time since the awards inauguration, the Mid-American Conference granted Central Michigan University the Cartwright Award Thursday for its success in athletics, academics and citizenship during the 2014-2015 school year.

The MAC selects one university annually to receive the award which was created in 2008-2009. CMU received the inaugural award and now becomes the only university to have won the honor twice. 

Central Michigan will officially receive the award during its season opening home football game against Oklahoma State, which is at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. 

According to mac-sports.com, all 16 CMU sports programs surpassed the NCAA Academic Performance Review benchmark score of 930. All of the programs scored a 945 or higher. 

CMU’s men’s basketball, baseball, field hockey and gymnastics teams also each claimed MAC regular-season titles in 2014-2015. Men’s Basketball Coach Keno Davis, Baseball Coach Steve Jaska and Field Hockey Coach Cristy Freese were all named MAC Coach of the Year in their respective sports. 

Former Chippewas Crystal Bradford, Pat MacKenzie and Leterrius Walton were drafted by the WNBA, MLB and NFL respectively and Kylie Fagan became the first gymnastics All-American in CMU history. 

Aside from athletic and academic achievements, more than 100 CMU students volunteered during the annual Michigan Special Olympic games this past summer. CMU students also raised more than $14,000 to benefit local and national charities. 

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