NORFOLK, Va., September 4, 2013 – Joseph Hutchinson of North Carolina Central University was named the 2013 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Male Student-Athlete of the Year.  Hutchinson received the award during the Eagles’ home football game on October 10 against South Carolina State.

“I am pleased to congratulate Joseph Hutchinson as the 2013 MEAC Male of the Year,” said MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas. “Mr. Hutchinson has displayed hard work, dedication and service in the community throughout his stint at North Carolina Central University.  I further congratulate Mr. Hutchinson’s parents, the NCCU administrators, athletic and academic support staff and coaches who have guided Mr. Hutchinson throughout his collegiate athletic and academic journey.” 

Hutchinson was a four-year letterman for the Eagles’ football team. A two-year starter, Hutchinson played in all 11 games for North Carolina Central during his senior season, including starting in 10 games on the offensive line. During his collegiate career, Hutchinson played in 39 games, had two receptions for 24 yards and amassed 11 tackles. He received the 2013 Outstanding Scholar Award by the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Football Hall of Fame.

Hutchinson was a member of the All-Academic Team in 2011 and was awarded the MEAC Male Post-Graduate Scholarship Male Recipient for the 2013-2014 year. In 2009, he was given the True Grit Award, which is presented annually by the NCCU Athletics Department to a member of a team recognizing leadership, sportsmanship and pride.

Hutchinson graduated Magna Cum Laude in June 2013 with a degree in Business Administration, accumulating a 3.512 GPA. He worked in the North Carolina Central University Football Administration in 2010 during an internship and most recently participated in an internship with the Global Football and Nike Sportswear Product Line at the Nike Headquarters in Beaverton, Ore.

In the community, Hutchinson logged in 150 hours of service in the Triangle Area as he also served as a volunteer speaker for Hear the Call conference (2011), participant in the Step Out to Stop Diabetes Walk (2012), Member of the Historic Thousands on Jones Street Rally with the NAACP (2012) and was a speaker for Elevate Summit Church Youth Group with NCCU Fellowship of Christian Athletes (2013).

Hutchinson becomes just the second student-athlete to be honored as the conference’s Male Student-Athlete of the Year.  Last year North Carolina A&T’s Jared Baldwin was recognized. 

The Male Student-Athlete of the Year honor is provided to the student-athlete who has excelled academically and athletically and is in his final season of intercollegiate athletics eligibility and competition under MEAC and NCAA regulations for the sport in which the student-athlete was nominated.

Each of the MEAC’s 13-member institutions may nominate one male student-athlete for the honor.  The honoree is selected by a committee of five conference Directors of Athletics that use a combination of the following criteria in selection of the award: service and leadership, academic achievement, and athletics excellence.