FREELAND, Mich. -- Hope College's Josh Gibson has been selected as the recipient of the 2019 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association's Albert L. Deal Male Scholar-Athlete Award winner.

The Albert L. Deal Male Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes a senior male student-athlete from a MIAA member college who has excelled in academics and athletics while displaying outstanding leadership qualities. The award is named in honor of Albert L. Deal, who served as MIAA commissioner from 1971 to 1991.

"Every year I am impressed with the quality of student-athletes that are nominated for the Albert L. Deal and Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Scholar Athlete Awards, and this academic year was no exception," said MIAA Commissioner Penny Allen-Cook. "I've had the privilege to watch both Anna (Kamp, winner of Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Award) and Josh compete at the highest level of NCAA Division III competition over their four years as MIAA student-athletes. Their fierce competitive nature, coupled with their high character and poise under pressure, are traits that make it no surprise they also excelled in the classroom and within their communities. They have both represented their respective institutions and the MIAA well."

Gibson is the third Hope student-athlete in four years to receive the Deal Award, and is the fourth all-time since the award's inception in 2004. 

Academically, Gibson graduated in May with a degree in Electrical Engineering; the Hudsonville, Mich. native compiled a 3.42 grade-point average and was named a two-time GCAAA Scholar All-America while garnering MIAA Academic Honor Roll accolades.

The three-time MIAA Golfer of the Year was the 2017 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Individual Champion and finished in the top 10 nationally each of the last three seasons. Gibson became the first-ever Division III repeat winner of the Jack Nicklaus National Golfer of the Year, winning the prestigious honor in 2018 and 2019. Gibson aided Hope in a sixth-place finish at the NCAAs in 2017 and 2018 and three MIAA Championships.

In the community, Gibson served as a Step-Up Mentor for two years, volunteered for the Hope Dance Marathon, and assisted with small-group leadership at a local Christian retreat center.

Also nominated for the award were: Tad Davis, Adrian College; Eric Ferrara, Alma College; Trent Vegter, Calvin College; Nick Ludka, Kalamazoo College; Trenton Monroe, Olivet College; and Pete Smith, Trine University.

Albert L. Deal Male Scholar-Athlete Award winners

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