ST. LOUIS - Western Illinois football continues its strong play off the gridiron, having now seen notable recognition from the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) in academic excellence, announced on Wednesday (Aug. 11).

Dennis Houston and Tony Tate, two All-MVFC preseason picks, along with Nathan Karsjens, were all named as recipients of the President's Council Academic Award -- the conference's highest academic achievement. It was a first-time honor for each of the three Leathernecks.

The MVFC also announced its Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award and Honor Roll.

The President's Council Academic Excellence Award requires a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average and participation in athletics for a minimum of two years. The league's Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award requires a minimum GPA of 3.2 for the previous two semesters, and freshmen are not eligible. To qualify for the honor roll, a student-athlete must have recorded a minimum 3.0 GPA for a specified term (Spring 2021), must have been a member of the football team, and must have a minimum of 12 hours of enrollment during the semester.
 

PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD: Dennis Houston, Nathan Karsjens, Tony Tate

COMMISSIONER'S ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD: Sam Barkalow, Nick D'Ambra, Elijah Elkerton, Colton Folliard, DeShon Gavin, Dennis Houston, Nathan Karsjens, Brandon Malkow, Hunter Mason, Chimobi Nwokocha, Tony Tate, J.D. Wilson

ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL: Vick Akinyemi, Sam Barkalow, Daniel Bender, Greg Benton Jr., Herschel Blankenship, Clay Bruno, Daniel Carson, Ludovick Choquette, Sam Cook, Bryce Cross, Dallas Daniels, Juan DelaCruz, Nick D'Ambra, Elijah Elkerton, Andrew Ernstmeyer, Tarell Evans, Adam Fellner, Colton Folliard, Gavin Fuchs, DeShon Gavin, Justin Hall, Dennis Houston, Jarren Jackson, Ty Jackson, Nathan Karsjens, Donovan Lacey, Brandon Malkow, Tre Maronic, Hunter Mason, Christiaan Masucci, Carter Morrow, Matt Muetterties, Ben Nauman, Justin Nutof, Chimobi Nwokocha, Ty O'Janovac, Henry Ogala, Tristan Pfeiffer, Adam Poundstone, Eryk Preston, Brandon Pruitt, Michael Ross, Connor Sampson, Kenyon'TA Skinner, Bradyn Smith, Jake Smith, Ronald Smith, Shawntrez Spates, Dylan Tabone, Tony Tate, Luis Torres, Cole Watts, Jack Whyte, J.D. Wilson, Alaric Wooten.