INDIANAPOLIS---The late Derek Hines, a former ice hockey student-athlete at the U.S. Military Academy, has been chosen as the recipient of the 2007 NCAA Award of Valor; and David Denniston, a former swimming and diving student-athlete at Auburn University, is recipient of the 2007 NCAA Inspiration Award.

Hines and Denniston will be recognized January 7 during the Honors Celebration at the 2007 NCAA Convention in Orlando.

A month into his tour of duty, Hines’ unit was surprised by small-arms fire while on patrol. Hines’ men ran for cover behind a rock but left a mortar exposed 15 feet away, which Hines retrieved. Several weeks later, his unit was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade while on Humvee patrol. Despite being wounded by shrapnel from the attack, Hines climbed onto an abandoned Humvee and began firing a .50-caliber machine gun, a weapon he had never handled before, to help stave off insurgents and protect other members of his unit.

Then on August 21, a Humvee in Hines’ unit was hit directly by a roadside bomb. Though he was able to pull the soldiers from the burning wreckage, none survived the blast. A hunt for the individual responsible for the attack led military personnel to Taliban Commander Thor Mullah Manan.

Early in the morning September 1, members of Hines’ squad, Afghan soldiers and police surrounded a house in the small village of Baylough, where Manan was hiding. While plans were being finalized for the arrest, the Taliban leader came out of the house disguised in the traditional black robes of a woman. He pulled out an automatic weapon and began firing. Hines jumped out of hiding and returned fire, killing Manan, but not before being fatally wounded himself. Hines was 25.

A 1999 NCAA champion and member of the U.S. National Team that competed in the 200-meter breaststroke in the 2003 World Championships, Denniston was making serious waves as an elite swimmer. That success came to an abrupt and tragic halt February 6, 2005, when he damaged his spine in a sledding accident in Wyoming. It took two hours for medics to reach him. As a result of the accident, he was paralyzed from the waist down.

Displaying some of the grit that had served him so well in the pool, Denniston immediately established a goal of regaining his ability to walk, despite being told by doctors that he may never do so again. He credits friends, family, former teammates and classmates for keeping him motivated.

Because of his accident, Denniston has gained entry into a field in which he has always been interested — motivational speaking. A communications major at Auburn, he said he was able to do some speaking through clinics and other activities before the accident. But Denniston, who describes himself as a "motivational humorist," wanted to take it to the next level. He has done that through his "Mind Over Body" program, in which he uses honest daily trials and life-changing insight with humor to change athletes’ perspective on life as it relates to sport.

Last May, friends and supporters organized the Dave Denniston Relay Across America. Initially launched to help raise funds for Denniston’s therapy and rehabilitation, the event raised $40,000. Now the relay benefits others through Project Walk, an exercise-based recovery program for people with spinal-cord injuries.

The Award of Valor may be presented to a coach, administrator or current or former varsity student-athlete at an NCAA member institution who when confronted with a situation involving personal danger, averted or minimized potential disaster by courageous action or noteworthy bravery. Further, for members of the armed forces confronted with a duty-related situation to be eligible for the award, the action must be clearly above and beyond the call of duty and recognized by the appropriate military command.

The Inspiration Award honors a coach, administrator or current or former varsity student-athlete from an NCAA member school who showed perseverance, dedication and determination in overcoming a life-altering situation and now serves as a role model to others facing similar circumstances. Neither the Inspiration nor Valor Award is presented automatically on an annual basis.

The Award of Valor and Inspiration Award recipients are selected by the NCAA Honors Committee. Members of the committee are: Thomas J. Brown, commissioner, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; Cedric W. Dempsey, president emeritus, NCAA; Timothy W. Gleason, commissioner, Ohio Athletic Conference; Calvin Hill, consultant, Dallas Cowboys; Jackie Joyner-Kersee, former University of California, Los Angeles, track and field student-athlete and Olympian; Gibbs Knotts, faculty-athletics representative, Western Carolina University; Julie Power Ruppert, associate commissioner and senior woman’s administrator, America East Conference; and Barbara G. Walker, Senior Associate Athletic Director, Wake Forest University.