Lynne Hendrix

The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has announced the establishment of a new Distinguished Service Award, presented to an athletic administrator, faculty representative or other individual who has served the conference with distinction for a significant period of time.

            The MIAA has named Lynne Hendrix, a faculty representative from Hope College for the past 24 years, as the first recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. Hendrix received the award during the MIAA’s Board of Control meeting on Tuesday, May 21, at Olivet College.

            Hendrix, a professor of accountancy at Hope who is retiring this summer after 29 years of teaching of the college, has been a leader among MIAA faculty representatives for many years, and has served on numerous MIAA and NCAA committees, Commissioner David Neilson said.

            “She has always been a strong supporter of student-athletes and their opportunities to participate in athletics, while at the same time being cognizant of the importance of academics as our primary purpose,” Neilson said.

            Among Hendrix’s responsibilities as a faculty rep for Hope including serving on various committees, calculating team grade-point averages, nominating student-athletes for awards and making sure they meet eligibility requirements.

            “I was never a college athlete, but I saw the benefit of athletics – teamwork, listening skills, leadership skills, the realization that there’s something bigger than you: the team,” Hendrix said in a recent article on Hope’s website.

            “It’s an easy job at a Division III school and in particular at Hope because most of our coaches are also professors and athletic directors are primarily concerned about students’ academic performance.”

            Hendrix is often cited as the go-to person in explaining MIAA policies and procedures, and has served as a mentor to new faculty representatives to the conference. She has attended numerous FAR conferences and NCAA conventions and shares information on best practices with her colleagues, Neilson said.