CCIW Awards

Chris Martin Perseverance Award

Chris Martin, was the frist full-time commissioner of the CCIW and served in that capacity from 2002-2019. This award recognizes his legacy of perseverance enduring the challenges of a lifelong hearing disability and a highly accomplished tenure leading the CCIW through a period of growth and success.

Awarded for the first time in 2019-20, it honors a student-athlete who demonstrates an unwavering commitment and perseverance to overcome a physical challenge in order to compete at the highest levels of CCIW athletics.

Elite 26 Award

Modeled after the NCAA's Elite 90 program, the CCIW Elite 26 is presented to the student-athlete who excels academically and athletically at the conference level in each of the CCIW's 26 sponsored sports. 

To be eligible for the Elite 26 Award, a student-athlete must be a sophomore, junior, or senior and in at least their second season of competition with their current team. Graduate students are not eligible. For sports where an individual is awarded all-conference honors at the conference championship (M&W cross country, M&W golf, M&W swimming & diving, M&W track & field, wrestling), the first team all-conference recipient with the highest GPA will receive the award. For sports that compete in a conference tournament (baseball, M&W basketball, bowling, M&W lacrosse, softball, M&W tennis, M&W volleyball), the student-athlete with the highest GPA from the first or second place team in the conference tournament will receive the award. For football, the student-athlete with the highest GPA from the first or second place team in the conference standings will receive the award.

2021-22 Elite 25 Recipients
2022-23 Elite 26 Recipients
2023-24 Elite 26 Recipients
2024-25 Elite 26 Recipients

Dave Wrath Academic All-Conference

Dave Wrath served as the CCIW's Sports Information Director from 1996 to 2005, and help develop the conference's academic all-conference program during his tenure. 

Each College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) member nominates student-athletes from each of the three sport seasons (e.g., fall, winter, spring) to be honored as Dave Wrath Academic All-Conference members. 

  • Any student-athlete, who participates in intercollegiate athletics and is eligible for competition per CCIW and NCAA requirements, including non-CCIW sponsored sports and associate members in their affiliated sports, may receive the award.
  • A student-athlete must have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at the nominating institution. The cumulative grade-point average may NOT be rounded up to 3.30.
  • No student-athlete is eligible until the term after two full-time terms at the nominating institution.
  • In the cases of transfers, graduate students, and two-year college graduates, the student-athlete must have completed two full-time terms at the nominating institution to be eligible. EXCEPTION: Graduate students who are competing at a different institution than the one from which they earned their undergraduate degree are eligible even if they are in their first semester at the graduate institution.

Jack Swartz Academic All-Conference

Jack Swartz is  the former Wheaton College tennis coach, athletics director and College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) commissioner until 1997.

Each College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) institution nominates one representative from a men's team and one representative from a women's team from each of the three sport seasons (e.g., fall, winter, spring) to be honored as the Jack Swartz Academic All-Conference winners. 

  • Any student-athlete who participates in intercollegiate athletics and is eligible for competition per CCIW and NCAA academic requirements may receive the award.
  • A student-athlete must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at nominating institution. The cumulative grade-point average may NOT be rounded up to 3.50.
  • No student-athlete is eligible until the term after two full-time terms at the nominating institution.
  • In the cases of transfers, graduate students, and two-year college graduates, the student-athlete must have completed two full-time terms at the nominating institution to be eligible. EXCEPTION: Graduate students who are competing at a different institution than the one from which they earned their undergraduate degree are eligible even if they are in their first semester at the graduate institution.

Merle Chapman Leadership Award

Merle Chapman served as Millikin's  Athletics Director and the CCIW's second commissioner from 1997-2002.

At the conclusion of the academic year, each CCIW institution selects one men's and one women's student-athlete from their Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) as Merle Chapman Leadership Award recipients. This award is named after the former Millikin Athletics Director and the CCIW's second commissioner, who served in that capacity from 1997-2002. The award identifies the student-athletes that best exemplify the traits that Chapman displayed and encouraged during his three-plus decades of service as teacher, coach and mentor to the athletes, coaches and administrators of the CCIW. Those traits are loyalty, enthusiasm, leadership, sportsmanship, and a commitment to academic, athletic and personal excellence.

RESPECT Award
At the conclusion of every sports season, each varsity program will recognize one student-athlete as their RESPECT Award honoree. RESPECT Award recipients have distinguished themselves as an integral member of the team, their institution and community by upholding the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust. The RESPECT Award recognizes the intangible traits a student-athlete possesses that exemplify great character and encourages inclusiveness and a positive culture.

2021-22 RESPECT Award Recipients
2022-23 RESPECT Award Recipients
2023-24 RESPECT Award Recipients
2024-25 RESPECT Award Recipients