Oct. 1, 2008
University of Illinois senior center Ryan McDonald was named a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy, which is presented annually by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame to a senior or graduate student in his final year of eligibility who has at least a 3.2 GPA and has demonstrated outstanding football ability, strong leadership and citizenship. McDonald is Illinois' second semifinalist in as many years, as linebacker J Leman also was named a finalist for the 2007 award.
McDonald graduated summa cum laude in May, 2008 with a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, finishing with a 3.83 undergraduate GPA, and he currently is pursuing a master's degree in the same field. Illinois' engineering graduate programs ranked fifth nationally in the 2008 U.S. News & World Report rankings and some majors earned the top spot.
The Holland, Mich., native also has been active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes while at Illinois, attending the first-ever national college FCA conference in Lookout Mountain, Ga., during the summer of 2008. He also organized teammates to take part in the 2008 M.S. Walk, an annual fundraiser in the Champaign-Urbana community to raise money and awareness for the crippling disease of multiple sclerosis. McDonald's mother, Jan, has suffered from M.S. for the past 15 years, spurring him to be the top fundraiser at the event by raising over $1,000.
McDonald is one of 164 semifinalists for the Draddy Trophy, which was established to honor former National Football Foundation chairman Vincent DePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who developed the Izod and Lacoste brands. The winner of the trophy is presented with a 25-pound bronze award in addition to a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship.
The NFF Awards Committee will select and announce up to 15 finalists Oct. 29, with each finalist being recognized as part of the 2008 National Scholar-Athlete Class and receiving an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. The Draddy winner will be announced at the NFF's Annual Awards Dinner Dec. 9 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
