Washburn Athletics Recognizes Another Type of Champion

Washburn Athletics is handing out MVP awards, but not to student athletes. Instead, athletes will award faculty and staff with MVP awards, or Most Valuable Professor awards, to recognize the impact they make on their educational journey

This is the first time for the MVP program, which asks Washburn women’s and men’s basketball players to nominate their favorite professors or staff members. Special recognition ceremonies will be held during halftime of both the women’s and men’s basketball games against Missouri Western State on Wednesday, Feb.7, in Lee Arena on the Washburn University campus.

“Washburn faculty members genuinely care about our student-athletes and go above-and-beyond to help them find success in the classroom and later in life,” said Loren Ferre, director of athletics, Washburn University. “We consider this a valuable opportunity for our student-athletes to show their appreciation and acknowledge wins in the classroom are just as important as wins in their respective sports.”

The MVP festivities are part of Washburn’s Faculty & Staff Appreciation Night. Faculty and staff receive complimentary tickets to the games as well as free popcorn while supplies last. The women’s game begins at 5:30 p.m. with the men’s contest to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Washburn University boasts 450 student athletes with a cumulative GPA of 3.35. In its history, Washburn has been home to 163 All-Americans with 24 of those in the 2022-2023 academic year. Washburn athletes competes in 17 intercollegiate sports including women’s golf that begins next fall.