INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA Hall of Champions will feature the artwork of 20 NCAA student-athletes in an exhibition that includes paintings, photography, sculptures, designs and personal statements from the student-athletes, May 26-June 25 in Indianapolis.    

The artwork reflects sports, various aspects of life and self portraits of the artists, as well as their thoughts and athletic accomplishments.    The NCAA Student-Athlete art show made its debut at the NCAA Convention in January in Washington, D.C.   More than two dozen pieces of art were selected from more than 100 nominations.   Many of the student-athletes have had the honor of displaying their art on their campuses, but now will have the opportunity to display it at the NCAA Hall of Champions.

“People have heard the tag line from our PSAs ‘Over 400,000 NCAA student athletes will go pro in something other than sports’ – and hosting an art show that puts the spotlight on student-athletes and their talents helps people see what that tag line really means,” said Damon Schoening, NCAA director of brand strategies and events.   “The artwork from the student athletes is first-class. Whether it’s a painting, a photograph or a sculpture, you can’t help but be impressed that these individuals are not only talented athletically, but they also have skills and abilities in so many other areas– and in this case, it’s visual art.  It truly shows the dimensions of our NCAA student athletes.   We’re also pleased to show the artwork from our NCAA Middle School Madness Programs.    It’s another example of student talent and how students can transcend their thoughts into creative artwork.”

In addition to the NCAA student-athlete art, the winning posters from the 2009 NCAA Final Four Middle School Madness programs will be displayed.   The NCAA Middle School Madness program is a link between classroom learning and the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Fours.    Middle school students in Detroit and St. Louis, which hosted the Men’s and Women’s Final Fours respectively, created posters that address a sportsmanship topic.    J’Nel Stephens-Dantzler, an eighth-grader at Burton International, and Mylen J. Williams, an eighth-grader at Michigan Technical Academy, won the poster contest in Detroit.   In St. Louis, eighth-grader Corbin Mason of Gateway Middle School, and seventh-grader MiChon Watson of Carr Lane VPA Middle School won the poster contest.    The middle school students will have their posters on display in addition to the artwork from the NCAA student-athletes. 

This will be the first exhibit to travel to the NCAA Hall of Champions since it reopened in March.   In addition to the NCAA student-athlete and the Middle School Madness artwork, individuals can also see 23 NCAA sport-specific exhibits and several interactive displays on the first and second floors of the Hall of Champions.  There is a video presentation, new athletic and academic content, and a new retail space in the 30,000 square foot facility located in the heart of the White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis.  

NCAA student-athletes who will have their artwork on display are:

• Kristina Baskett, University of Utah (gymnastics, photography)
• Derek Cheng,  Johns Hopkins University (track, sculpture and illustration)
• Jessie Gallagher, Lycoming College (swimming, photography)
• Nubia Garcia, Montana State University (basketball, photography)
• Kurt Gardiner, Greensboro College (soccer, painting)
• Dina Hegazy, University of Southern California (swimming, photography)
• Robin Hextrum, University of Southern California (rowing, painting)
• Karyn Jordahl, Edgewood College (volleyball, photography)
• Brittany King, Wheaton College (Massachusetts) (lacrosse, painting)
• Allison LaChance, Rochester Institute of Technology (rowing, painting and illustration)
• Dexter Larimore, Ohio State University (football, sculpture)
• Sarah Lee, Chapman University (water polo, photography)
• Allison Papko, Bethel (Minnesota) (ice hockey, illustration and graphic design)
• Julie Rader, Oklahoma State University (track, fashion design and jewelry)
• Anya Rosen, Carnegie Mellon University (soccer, painting)
• Nick Schneiders, University of South Carolina Upstate (basketball, graphic design)
• Adrienne Spivak, Occidental  College (soccer, painting)
• Whitney Taylor, Bowling Green State University (basketball, photography and illustration)