Senior Associate Athletic Director Honored

Clarence Underwood recognized by National Consortium for Academics and Sports.

April 6, 1999

East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan State University senior associate athletic director Clarence Underwood has been selected to receive a 1999 National Student-Athlete Day Giant Steps Award on behalf of the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS).

Dr. Underwood, who is being recognized in the category of athletic administration, will join the other six recipients in a White House ceremony with President Bill Clinton on Wednesday, April 7. He will receive the award at the NCAS Annual Giant Steps Award Banquet and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Orlando in February 2000.

"This is by far the most prestigious award I have ever received," Underwood said. "I am pleased to be considered among the other outstanding recipients.

"I have always enjoyed working with young people, it certainly has been one of the highlights of my life," Underwood added. "I have gained far more than I have received. During my career in education, I have always felt blessed to be able to see hope and get a glimpse of the future through the eyes of young people."

Underwood, who returned to MSU in 1990 after serving as a Deputy Commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, has dedicated his life to education. Underwood has worked over the last several decades as gifted counselor to student-athletes, an advocate for student-athlete rights, a creative mentor, a motivational leader, an accomplished author and a highly skilled administrator.

Dr. Underwood initiated the popular Big Ten SCORE program (Success Comes Out of Reading Everyday) for inner city children, promoted the Big Ten Advisory Commission to give voice to minority/equity issues and established lofty standards in the area of academic advising and institutional compliance.

A native of Alabama, Underwood served two years in the 82nd Airborne Division before graduating from Michigan State with a bachelor's degree in physical education and counseling in 1965. Dr. Underwood began making a difference by helping Dr. Martin Luther King work with adults to complete their high school education and register to vote. He also worked to heighten awareness of educational and right-to-vote issues of Black Americans in the summer.

1999 Giant Steps Award Winners:

Courageous Student-Athletes

Pam White (Adams State/Wings of America)

Gilbert Tuhabonye (Abilene Christian University)

Coach

Bert Jenkins (Gulfport High School)

Pat Summitt (Tennessee)

Civic Leaders

Raymond Chambers (New Jersey Nets)

Lewis Katz (New Jersey Nets)

Athletic Administrator

Clarence Underwood (Michigan State)