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Swanson, a member of the Cougars' soccer team the past four years, was selected as the Division II/NAIA male recipient of the award for his athletic achievements, academic performance, leadership, and community service endeavors.

Swanson, a native of Mount Vernon, Ohio, and former two-sport standout at Mount Vernon High School, helped MVNU post a 62-26-5 overall record during his career as the Cougars qualified for the NAIA postseason three times and made three trips to the National Christian College Athletic Association National Tournament.

After switching from the forward position to defender following his freshman season, Swanson anchored the MVNU defense over his final three seasons as the team leader in minutes played. The Cougars also posted 29 shutouts during that span. Following his senior season, Swanson was selected to the American Mideast Conference South Division First Team and the NCCAA East Region Team.

In the classroom, Swanson has also been a standout as his 3.85 grade point average attests. A mathematics and computer science double major, he has been named to the MVNU Dean's List every semester. He is also a two-time NAIA and NCCAA All-America Scholar-Athlete, and he was named to the Verizon Academic All-District Second Team this year.

Swanson has also been involved on the MVNU campus and in the local Mount Vernon community in several areas. He is active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the MVNU Math Club as well as serving as a captain on the soccer team. He has been a coach at the Cougar Soccer Camp for four years, and he volunteered as a coach and referee with the Upward Basketball youth league for two years. He is also active in his local church, Mount Vernon First Church of the Nazarene.

Swanson becomes the second MVNU player to be honored during the 16 years in which the Woody Hayes National Scholar-Athlete Award has been presented. Former Cougar basketball standout Adam Stevens was selected as one of the 2001 recipients.

The other five honorees for 2003 are: Jason Johnson, University of Arizona, football - Division I male; Lauren Shenk, The Ohio State University, women's basketball - Division I female; Jill Theeler, North Dakota State University, track - Division II/NAIA female; Andrew Hilliard, University of St. Thomas (Minn.), track and football - Division III male; and Andrea Pawliczek, Emory University, basketball and soccer - Division III female.

The Woody Hayes National Scholar-Athlete Awards are presented annually to the outstanding male and female scholar-athlete in each of the three collegiate divisions. A panel of eminently qualified judges selects the winners from among all the nominations submitted by the sports information directors of each institution. By honoring these six scholar-athletes, the University and Northwest Sertoma Club seeks to establish a perpetual living memorial to the late Coach Woody Hayes.

The 2003 winners will be honored at an awards banquet at the Villa Milano restaurant in Columbus on Friday, February 7. The keynote speaker will be Jim Tressel, the football coach of the The Ohio State University and the 2002 National Football Coach of the Year. For tickets and more information, please contact Eric Parks at (614) 268-4003.