Washington University in St. Louis student-athlete Andrew Whitaker will be honored with the inaugural Fritz Pollard Trophy at the virtual 16th annual Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. Salute to Excellence Awards on March 16 at 11 a.m. CST, the Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation announced Wednesday. 

The Fritz Pollard Trophy honors a college player who has exemplified extraordinary courage, community values, and exceptional performance on the field, while the awards ceremony celebrates individuals and organizations who display outstanding performances on the field, in front offices and across the U.S. by exemplifying diversity, courage and meritorious performance.  

"Andrew is a leader who has made a significant impact at WashU and he embodies what being a Scholar-Champion is all about," said Director of Athletics, Anthony J. Azama. "Through his service to the community and leadership as a role model to those around him, he demonstrates you can achieve greatness both in the classroom and in athletic competition. Andrew is an inspiration to the WashU community." 

The 2021 honorees have shown an exceptional commitment to diversity and set the standard upon which their colleagues and peers are measured. "We are honored to recognize these amazing individuals and organizations that continue to raise the bar of diversity, equity and inclusion," said Rod Graves, executive director, Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation. 

Whitaker was selected to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and named a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation Campbell Trophy in 2020. 

He has started 19 of 28 career games for the Bears registering 99 tackles, three interceptions and five blocked kicks. Whitaker is also a four-time All-American and six-time University Athletic Association (UAA) champion in track and field, and won the 2019 NCAA Division III Outdoor 4x400m relay national title. 

Off the field, Whitaker is involved in Bear Cubs, Dance CPSR (Cerebral Palsy Sports Rehabilitation), McKelvey Takes Responsibility Campaign and the WashU Black Letterwinning Athletes Coalition (WU BLAC). In addition, he spent eight days assisting 1,200 patients as part of a medical brigade in Honduras and completed an internship with Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. 

Whitaker has a 3.64 grade point average while majoring in biomedical engineering, and is a two-time Academic All-CCIW honoree. He is also a Gephardt Civic Scholar, Annika Rodriguez Scholar and received the Omega Psi Phi Rising Stars Scholarship. 

Others receiving awards include Bruce Arians, head coach Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tom Flores, Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach, William "Bill" Nunn, Jr., Pro Football Hall of Fame Scout (posthumously), Ron Rivera, head coach, Washington Football Team, the Charlotte Hornets and John B. Wooten, chairman emeritus, Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation and former NFL All-Pro player and executive.  

Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder and president, Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Art Shell, Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, will give remarks. Professor Kenneth L. Shropshire will provide a keynote address on the status of minority leadership in the sports industry. 

The event is free to the public, but you must register to view the program.