BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Eastern Kentucky University senior football player Patrick Ford has been selected as one of the six individuals to receive the prestigious Ohio Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Award for 2011-12.

The award is the highest individual honor that can be earned by OVC student-athletes, and is given annually to three men and three women student-athletes of junior or senior status for their accomplishments in both the classroom and athletic arena, and because of their leadership qualities.

Ford is in his final year of eligibility as an offensive lineman with the Eastern Kentucky football team. On the gridiron, Ford was a key member of the EKU team that won a share of the 2011 OVC title and advanced to last year’s NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. The native of Richmond, Ky., helped block for an All-American running back in 2011 while earning first-team All-OVC honors. Ford started the first five games of the 2012 season at left tackle before suffering a season-ending injury.

In the classroom, Ford has already completed an undergraduate degree in construction management with a minor in business (3.9 GPA) and is currently working on a graduate degree in applied engineering and technology. He has been a two-time selection to the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll, the EKU’s Dean List and an EKU Colonel Scholar. Ford was also inducted into the EKU chapter of the Chi Alpha Sigma national athletic honor society. He is also a member of the Student Contractor’s Association.

Ford’s volunteer activities include helping with Habitat for Humanity and Special Olympics as well as mentoring at a Richmond teen center and helping with reading programs and food/clothing drives.

The other award winners were: Stephanie Arnold of Eastern Illinois (volleyball), Sean Bailey of Austin Peay (tennis), Kellie Cook of Tennessee Tech (basketball), Leah Taylor of UT Martin (softball) and Hunter York of Murray State (golf).

The six winners were selected from a group of 18 finalists by a vote of OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives. Honorees must have performed athletically with distinction, earned at least a 3.25 grade point average and conducted themselves in a manner which has brought credit to the student-athlete, his or her institution, intercollegiate athletics and the OVC. The award is based on academic and athletic criteria/accomplishments achieved during the 2011-12 school year.

No. 18 Eastern Kentucky (7-3, 5-2 OVC) will celebrate Senior Day this weekend in the regular season finale when the Colonels host Murray State. Kick-off on Saturday, Nov. 10 is set for 1 p.m.