WMU's Tim Hiller Named Male Michigan College Athlete of the Year

From WMU Media Relations:

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Tim Hiller was announced as the 2009 Male Michigan College Athlete of the Year by the Detroit Athletic Club on Friday, April 10. Hiller, who set seven Western Michigan single-season and game records en route to leading the Broncos to the 2008 Texas Bowl, becomes the first Bronco to win the collegiate award.

“It is a great honor to receive this award and being the first Bronco to do so makes it all the more special to me. I thank the Detroit Athletic Club and all those on the committee for this recognition,” commented Hiller.

Hiller and the other award recipients will be honored at an awards ceremony held at the Detroit Athletic Club on May 11. Attendees will be shown a video of each award winners' accomplishments and for receiving this award, Western Michigan’s athletic department will receive a $2,500 donation.

In keeping with its tradition of encouraging amateur athletics, the Detroit Athletic Club continues to play an important role by supporting the annual National Athletic Awards, a prestigious program that benefits the March of Dimes. Each year, the DAC names four outstanding Michigan student athletes and presents them with the Michigan High School Athlete of the Year award and Michigan College Athlete of the Year award. The DAC Foundation supports this outstanding event and makes scholarships available to the two high school winners and the 10 high school nominees as well as making a donation to the colleges of the two college winners. Winners are chosen based on athletic achievement, academics and community involvement.

Hiller has excelled in each of the above criteria during his Bronco career. His 522 passing attempts, 339 completions, 3,725 yards, 36 TDs during the 2008 season are all new WMU single-season records. His 42 completions and 63 attempts at Buffalo on Oct. 11, and his 471 yards at Central Michigan one week later are new WMU game records. Tim Hiller has more than excelled in the classroom, earning a 4.0 GPA during his scholastic and collegiate career. He completed is undergraduate course work in August of 2008 and is currently pursuing his MBA.

Hiller is a mainstay in the community as well, leading the Bronco football team’s efforts in service to the community each semester and founded Western Michigan’s chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). He will take his philanthropic efforts abroad when he travels to Trinidad at the end of April for an FCA mission.

Western Michigan also boasts the 2008 Male Michigan High School Athlete as linebacker Mitch Zajac (Holt, Mich./Holt High School) became the first future Bronco to win the award since its inception in 1997.

Michigan College Athlete Award Winners Since 2006
2009 — Tim Hiller, WMU (Football) and Katie Cezat, HC (Basketball)
2008 — Jeff Lerg, MSU (Hockey) and Tiffany Ofili, UofM (Track)
2007 — Drew Stanton, MSU (Football) and Becky Weima, Calvin (Swimming)
2006 — Davis Tarwater, UofM (Swimming) and Lisa Winkle, Calvin (Basketball)