BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Eastern Kentucky University senior Emory Attig has been selected as one of the six individuals to receive the prestigious Ohio Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Award for 2010-11.

The award is the highest individual honor that can be earned by OVC student-athletes, and is given annually to three men and three women of junior or senior status for their accomplishments in the classroom and athletic arena, and because of their leadership qualities.

Emory Attig is in his final season of eligibility with the EKU football team. The defensive tackle has been a starter for the team dating back to the 2009 season. In 2010, he was named a second-team All-OVC selection after registering 35 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 sacks and forcing and recovering a fumble during the season.

Attig, a native of Alpharetta, Ga., was the recipient of the EKU football team’s Colonel Core Value Award in each 2009 and 2010. Twice he has been named a CoSIDA Academic All-District first-team selection (2009, 2010) and a FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team selection.

In the classroom, Attig carries a 3.84 grade point average, has already completed an undergraduate degree in communications and is currently working on a second undergraduate degree in business. He has been named a Colonel Scholar for each of the last six semesters, a Dean’s List honoree six times, an OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll pick three times as well as earning the OVC Medal of Honor twice. He is a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma National Student-Athlete Honor Society, the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Golden Key International Honor Society. Attig has also volunteered his time with Habitat for Humanity and the OVC’s Canned Food Drive.

The other award winners were: Lauren Harkins of Jacksonville State University (volleyball), Jenna Miller of the University of Tennessee at Martin (volleyball), Ty Proffitt of Morehead State University (basketball), Paul Ritzheimer of Murray State University (baseball) and Bridget Sanchez of Eastern Illinois University (track and field).

The six winners were selected from a group of 20 finalists by a vote of OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives. Honorees must have performed athletically with distinction, earned at least a 3.25 grade point average and conducted themselves in a manner which has brought credit to the student-athlete, his or her institution, intercollegiate athletics and the OVC. The award is based on academic and athletic criteria/accomplishments achieved during the 2010-11 school year.