Thursday, May 8, 2014

Business graduate finds success on and off field

Gavin Howard (left) was named Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year
KU football player and business school alumnus Gavin Howard was recently named the Bob Frederick Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year award.

Howard was surprised and grateful when he rose to accept the award at the Senior Celebration and K Ring ceremony on April 28. The offensive lineman from Owasso, Oklahoma, was honored for his dedication and commitment to both KU and his team.

“I was completely surprised when I realized I had won the award as there are a number of great combinations of students and athletes at KU,” Howard said. “I guess just the ability to know and perform my job as an athlete at KU both on and off the field helped me stand out amongst the other athletes.”

Howard said it’s always reassuring to see hard work pay off and the award allowed him to see that by working hard at something he can achieve recognition, which makes him want to work that much harder to achieve his future goals. He attributes his success to the people in his life.

“Always have people in your life that can both push you and mentor you or else you won’t be able to get where you’re trying to go,” Howard said. “That’s probably the most important thing. No one can do everything necessary to achieve their goals on their own.”

Howard graduated in the fall with his finance degree and will graduate this May with his mathematics degree. He is currently working for ConocoPhillips in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, as a revenue analyst.

by Mackenzie Leander