OVERLAND PARK, Kan.  – Creighton men’s basketball forward Ryan Hawkins is one of 30 NCAA men’s basketball student-athletes who excel both on and off the court that were selected as candidates today for the 2021-22 Senior CLASS Award^® in collegiate basketball. Hawkins is the only player from the BIG EAST Conference on the list.

To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. The complete list of candidates follows this release.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ^®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. The men’s and women’s candidates will be narrowed to two fields of 10 finalists later in the season, and those names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will then select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four C’s of community, classroom, character and competition.

Hawkins leads Creighton with 13.3 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game and 19 three-pointers made. The Atlantic, Iowa, product has scored in double-figures seven times this winter and became the first Bluejay in nearly 40 seasons to open a campaign with three straight games of 10 or more rebounds. Add in his stats at Division II Northwest Missouri State and Hawkins owns 2,218 career points, 1,005 career rebounds, 304 career three-pointers and 233 career steals. Among the nation’s active Division I players, he ranks in the top 10 in field goals made (1st), rebounds (2nd), points (3rd), games played (4th), double-doubles (6th), three-point field goals (9th) and steals (10th).

Hawkins is the ninth Creighton Men’s Basketball student-athlete to make the Senior CLASS cut since the inception of the award in 2000-01, joining Kyle Korver (2002-03), Anthony Tolliver (2006-07), Dane Watts (2007-08), Josh Dotzler (2008-09), Kenny Lawson Jr. (2010-11), Doug McDermott (2013-14), Maurice Watson Jr. (2016-17) and Marcus Foster (2017-18). Former Creighton men’s soccer goalkeeper Brian Holt won the 2011 Senior CLASS Award on the pitch, while McDermott won the 2014 Senior CLASS Award on the hardwood.

The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2022 NCAA Men’s Final Four^® and NCAA Women’s Final Four^® this spring. For more information on each of the candidates, visit seniorCLASSaward.com.

DES MOINES, IOWA — Drake continued its torrid perimeter shooting by making a season-high 13 three-point baskets en route to a 101- 57 nonconference romp past Simpson College Tuesday night at the Knapp Center. Drake, winning its fifth straight game, improved its record to 6-2 entering a Sunday nonconference home game with Northern Illinois. Simpson, which had a three-game winning streak snapped, fell to 6-2.

Drake opened the game, making eight of its first 10 shots from the floor including four straight three-point baskets, to race to a 23-10 lead. Drake shot 50 percent (38-76) from the floor. Freshman guard Katie Dinnebier added 15 points, including three three-point baskets and three steals. Guard Megan Meyer chipped in with 11 points. A scrappy Drake defense scored 23 points off Simpson turnovers. All 13 Drake players who suited up saw action.

The Bulldogs host Northern Illinois on Sunday Dec. 13. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 pm.

LAS VEGAS – Iowa State senior All-American tight end Charlie Kolar is one of the most decorated players in Iowa State history and he solidified his place in Cyclone history by receiving the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy tonight at the 63rd National Football Foundation Awards Dinner in Las Vegas.

The Campbell Trophy is given annually to the nation’s best scholar-athlete football player and is considered the Academic Heisman. It ranks as one of college football’s most sought after and competitive awards, recognizing an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.

Kolar, who was in attendance to accept the 25-pound bronze trophy, will also receive a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship.

Kolar will be a feature interview on Thursday’s ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show and honored Dec. 13 by the New York Athletic Club in New York. He will also travel to Indianapolis for the CFP National Championship (Jan. 14) to be recognized in an on-field salute.

Kolar was humbled and thrilled to receive the esteemed award.

“This is an incredible honor,” Kolar said. “The finalists this year had amazing resumes, and to be recognized along with the other winners of this prestigious award, I am so grateful. When you come to college on an athletic scholarship you have the responsibility to learn, and I don’t think you should waste that opportunity. My parents played a huge role in instilling these values in me and it was great to have them both here with me tonight.”

“Charlie is as high-end of a competitor I have ever been around,” Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell said. “Whatever Charlie has put his mind to, he’s been successful. He wants to be the best. If it’s school, he wants to be the best. If it’s on the football field, he wants to be the best. He’s earned this honor and I’m so thrilled for him, because all of his hard work has got him where he is today.”

A native of Norman, Okla., Kolar set the standard for tight ends and is one of the greatest players in Iowa State history. As a two-time All-American and two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, Kolar is the only football player in school history to earn First Team CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades two times.

“The first Iowa State player to be named an All-American and Academic All-American, Charlie Kolar embodies what the Campbell Trophy represents,” said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons, Peyton and Eli, were NFF National Scholar Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. “He has led one of the most successful eras in Cyclone history while graduating with a near-perfect GPA. Charlie stands as the perfect example for the next generation to emulate.”

Kolar, who earned All-Big 12 First Team honors for the third-straight season, owns all of ISU’s tight end school records in his fabulous career, including career receiving yards (2,148), career receptions (164) and career touchdowns (22).

His 22 touchdown catches ranks third and his 164 receptions ranks fourth, respectively, on ISU’s overall career record list.

Kolar, who has a caught a pass in 35-straight games, the second-longest streak in school history and the nation’s fifth-best active streak, finished off his career with another fantastic season.

The two-time Mackey Award finalist is second on the team in receptions (58) and receiving yards (723), both single-season school marks by a tight end. His 5.2 catches per game ranks fourth nationally among FBS tight ends.

Kolar matched his stellar performance on the gridiron in the classroom.

Kolar graduated in the fall of 2020 with a 3.99 cumulative GPA in mechanical engineering. In March of 2021, Kolar received the prestigious Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Award, honoring outstanding seniors who display high character, outstanding achievement in academics and university/community activities.

A 2020 Big 12 Dr. Gerald Lage Academic Achievement Award recipient and four-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 honoree, Kolar has maintained a 4.00 GPA in his postgraduate work in finance.

Cyclone fans can watch Kolar for one final time at the 2021 Cheez-It Bowl, as the Cyclones take on No. 19 Clemson on Dec. 29 in Orlando.