Skyhawk football player Chad McMahan has been named one of six Ohio Valley Conference Scholar-Athletes for 2005-06.

Each year, three male and three female athletes receive the award for their achievements both on the field of play and in the classroom.

McMahan is a fourth-year player who has started at free safety the last three years, and is one of four team captains for the 2005 season.

The Batesville, Miss., native has maintained a 3.79 grade point average while majoring in biology. The award requires a minimum 3.25 grade point average and conduct that brings honor to the student-athlete’s school, the OVC, and the NCAA.

His academic achievements have resulted in McMahan earning a spot on the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll three times.

In addition to his classroom accomplishments, McMahan is an active leader in the UT Martin chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

He has served as a pledge educator for the fraternity and is currently the head of the fraternity’s scholarship committee.

He is also affiliated with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

UTM soccer player Lindsey Tilk was one of twenty other nominees for the award.