Behind every successful student athlete is a support system of people that contribute to his or her achievement.

This year, the UC Athletics Department and the Athletics Advisory Council chose two supporters from the Lindner College of Business to receive the 2011–2012 Department of Athletics’ Legion of Excellence Student-Athlete Faculty Impact Award.

Erwin Erhardt, an adjunct assistant professor of economics, and Michael Rowland, an advisor of undergraduate business programs, are being acknowledged for supportive relationship with student athletes.

“I congratulate Erwin and Michael for this well-deserved honor. Both exemplify our college’s dedication and commitment to creating meaningful and quality student experiences,” says Lindner College of Business Dean David M. Szymanski.

The Department of Athletics, along with members of the Athletic George Smith Society, will host a pre-game reception for award recipients on February 18 at the UC/Seton Hall men’s basketball game. The awards will be presented on court at 4 p.m. prior to the game.

The award came as a surprise to both. Rowland says he had to read the email several times to be sure it was correct.

“My responsibilities are to assist student-athletes, but I truly believe that they succeed due to their hard work and the support that they get from the athletic academic team and their coaches,” Rowland says.

Erhardt says he too considers the award a great honor, “especially since it came from a student who felt I impacted his life,” he says.

“I think it’s important to take the extra step to encourage some students because we may only have them for 10 weeks of their life, and we might just be able to help them understand the importance of their degree and its relevance to their future,” Erhardt says.

The award, in its second year, complements the Legion of Excellence Award created by the Department of Athletics in 2001 that honors student-athletes who earned the highest cumulative grade point average during the previous school year, and who were in good standing with their respective sport.

Winners of the Legion of Excellence Award are asked to nominate someone in a supportive role. Student athletes were asked to reflect on their education and on faculty/staff who have impacted their overall academic success.

Administrators realized that behind every achieving athlete is a strong support system. “At the core of that learning process is the relationship between the student athlete and our outstanding faculty,” UC Athletic Director Whit Babcock says.