Texas Tech University Athletics
Bank of America Community Champion Finalists Announced
October 01, 1999 | General
Oct. 1, 1999
DALLAS - Keith Cockrum, Rob Peters, and Bobbi Crill from Texas Tech University have been selected as Bank of America Community Champions, and are finalists for the Community Champion of the Year award. These student athletes' selection was based on their accomplishments in Big 12 Conference athletics and in the community. Cockrum, Peters, and Crill are all seniors. In recognition of excellence, Bank of America is proud to make a $3,000 contribution to Texas Tech's general scholarship fund.
"This program recognizes student athletes for an effort that many times goes unnoticed, being a good student and giving back to the community," said Michael L. Marshall, Senior Vice President of Bank of America Lubbock. "Community involvement is important to us at Bank of America and we are proud to recognize these athletes who are champions on the field and in their communities."
The Big 12 Conference and Bank of America will also honor these deserving student athletes with a special feature on the Conference's weekly television show, the Big 12 Showcase, and with a presentation at a Texas Tech athletic event later this year.
Each of these student athletes have made tremendous contributions to their teams and to their local communities. Cockrum is a senior defensive back on the Red Raider football team. He has posted 112 tackles in his first three seasons at Tech, and is tied for fourth on the team this year with 17 tackles, including two for losses, through three games. He was also the 1999 Independence Bowl Scholar Athlete of the Game. Cockrum has truly been a standout in the classroom. As an almost unheard of triple major in Management Information Systems, Finance, and Economics, he has earned a perfect 4.0 every semester he has been enrolled at Texas Tech. He has also been on the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll every semester, and earned Academic All-Big 12 honors in 1996, 1997, and 1998. In addition to his tremendous efforts in the classroom and on the football field, Cockrum still finds time to help others in the community. He visits the Lubbock Children's Home, which benefits abandoned children, and helped coordinate a student-athlete food drive in 1998. He is a three year Texas Tech College of Business Ambassador, and was a member of the NCAA Fiscal Integrity Board in 1998.
Peters has been the Red Raiders starting quarterback the last two years. Last year, he led the team in all purpose yards per game with 154.9, and was second on the team in rushing touchdowns and third in overall rushing. He was in the top 50 in the country with a passing efficiency rating of 122.6. He was the Dell Morgan Most Courageous Award recipient in 1998, and was voted team captain by his teammates for the 1999 season. Peters' academic performance has been equally impressive. He has earned a perfect 4.0 G. P. A. four times, and has maintained a 3.8 G. P. A. overall. He has been a member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll every semester he has been enrolled at Tech, and has earned Academic All-Big 12 honors in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Peters' has shown an equally impressive to his community, especially children. He is a frequent visitor to the Lubbock Children's Home, and participates in the "I Like Me" children's reading program. He has a sincere desire to promote reading amongst America's youth, and spends a great deal of this time speaking at local schools and the Children's Hospital.
Crill has been a key member of Texas Tech's indoor and outdoor women's track teams during her career. She has received a series of honors for her performance, including being named to the Texas Tech University All-Time Indoor 55 meter hurdles list. In 1997, she also got to 4th on Texas Tech's All-Time Women's Outdoor performers list and 2nd on Texas Tech's All-Time Women's Indoor performers list. She used a redshirt during the 1998/1999 season to train for a new event, pole vault. Her performance in the classroom has been even more impressive than her performance on the track. She has earned a perfect 4.0 G. P. A. each of the last six semesters, and maintains a 3.98 G. P. A. overall. She has been a member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll every semester she has been enrolled at Tech, and has earned Academic All-Big 12 honors in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Crill has also remained committed to making a contribution to her community. She helped Adopted Angels from Angel Tree in 1998, which benefits needy children at Christmas, and also helped coordinate the You Can Share Food Drive at Christmas time that year. She also frequently spends time with ill children at the Ronald McDonald House. She has a penchant for helping children, particularly those that are less fortunate.
This is the second year of the Community Champion program, created by Bank of America to honor athletes from each school in the Big 12. The Bank of America Community Champion Award is based on student athlete's contributions on and off the field. This includes athletic background and accomplishments, academic merits, involvement in community organizations and contributions to the school and community in other areas. Each Big 12 school nominated student athletes this summer, and a panel of Big 12 and Bank of America representatives selected the winners. Three winners from each Big 12 school will be selected and honored over the next year. As a part of this program, $3,000 will be given to each school's general scholarship fund. Each Bank of America Community Champion is also eligible to be selected the Bank of America Community Champion of the Year. Bank of America will contribute another $5,000 to the Community Champion of the Year's university.
To date, Bank of America has donated over $80,000 to Big 12 universities through this program.
The Bank of America Community Champion is featured weekly on the national broadcast of Big 12 Showcase, check local listings for show times or visit the Big 12 Conference website, www.big12sports.com.
