Mark Hawkins will represent NKU this spring

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Northern Kentucky University basketball player Mark Hawkins has been selected as a representative for the 2006 NCAA Leadership Conference, which will be held May 28 through June 1 at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Hawkins was one of 1,319 student-athletes who were nominated for the position. From the list of institutions that met all of the established guidelines and representatives from the Division I, II and III national Student-Athlete Advisory Committees, a total of 352 student-athletes were selected to participate in the 2006 NCAA Leadership Conference.

Hawkins, a sophomore guard and a graduate of Finneytown High School, averaged 5.7 points per game last season. He ranked second on the team with 3-pointers made with 38 and hit 78.3 percent of his free throws.

The 352 student-athlete representatives will meet at Disney’s Yacht Beach Club Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The NCAA Leadership Conference provides NCAA student-athletes with a forum to openly discuss issues that may affect them on their campuses and in their communities, while also providing them with the opportunity to enhance their leadership, communication, decision-making and problem-solving skills.

The leadership conference also promotes better communication among student-athletes, coaches, administrators, faculty and communities. The five-day leadership conference consists of daily exercises and activities to help the student-athletes develop as individuals and as contributing members to a group.

The conference is an outreach of the successful CHAMPS/Life Skills Program.