Columbia, Mo. - Columbia College senior volleyball player Maria Omondi has been named the American Midwest Conference's 2010 Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character recipient. The award is named after Dr. Walker, President emeritus of the United States Olympic Committee who served as president through the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games. Dr. Walker is a graduate of Benedict College (S.C.) and a former president of the NAIA.
The award, considered one of the most prestigious honors in the NAIA, recognizes a student-athlete who excels in athletics and academics and is committed to the Champions of Character program's five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. The NAIA initiative is designed to instill an understanding of character values in sport and provide student-athletes, coaches and parents the training to help them know and do the right things, inside and outside the sports setting. Champions of Character is dedicated to the principle that character is a choice and that being a champion is about reaching your potential and making good decisions consistently in daily life.

Omondi was chosen as the AMC's winner for her efforts on and off the volleyball court. On the court Maria was a 2010 First Team All-American, AMC Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference. For her efforts in the classroom she was named ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-American College Division Volleyball Player of the Year in 2009, a honor that no other Cougar athlete has ever received. Maria is also a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete, three-time Academic All-AMC winner, four-time Athletic Director's Honor Roll recipient. Maria was also a member of Columbia College's International Club, Science Club, Bible Talk and Partners In Reading. Through her local church she also participated in ‘Clean Up Columbia' and was a food bank volunteer.

Maria will graduate in May 2011 with plans to go onto medical school.