Eastern Wayne Today

Wayne State University graduate place-kicker Griffin Milovanski has been named a national semifinalist for the William Campbell Trophy, as announced by the National Football Foundation earlier today. Milovanski is the only GLIAC football student-athlete to receive this recognition.

Milovanski, a second-year team captain, has consistently earned academic honor roll recognition throughout his eight semesters at Wayne State. He completed his bachelor's degree in Management in May 2024 and is currently pursuing an MBA. On the field, he has scored 177 career points in 33 games, with 35 field goals and 72 extra points. His achievements place him third in program history for field goals made and fourth for PATs.

Milovanski is one of seven student-athletes from Michigan institutions to be named a semifinalist. Other recognized athletes include Central Michigan's Dominic Serapiglia, Eastern Michigan's Jere Getzinger, Michigan's Josh Priebe, Michigan State's Maverick Hansen, Hillsdale's Logan VanEnkevort, and Hope's Dylan Clem.

The National Football Foundation (NFF) announced a record number of 203 semifinalists for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy®, surpassing last year's 201 nominees. The candidates have an average GPA of 3.63, with more than half having already earned their bachelor's degrees.

NFF Chairman Archie Manning commented on the significance of the award: "These 203 semifinalists reflect not only exceptional academic and athletic talent but also the deep-rooted leadership that shows a commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives, which is learned on the gridiron."

The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on October 23rd. Each finalist will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as part of the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will attend the NFF Annual Awards Dinner at Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on December 10th, where one member will be declared as the winner of the Campbell Trophy® and receive an increased scholarship of $25,000.

Nominated by their schools with one nominee each allowed per institution, candidates must be seniors completing their final year or graduate students who have already earned a degree and are participating in the current season. They must have a GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale and demonstrate outstanding football ability along with strong leadership and citizenship qualities.

NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell stated: "We are incredibly proud of this year's semifinalists who embody the true spirit of the Campbell Trophy®. Their achievements remind us of the profound impact scholar-athletes have not just on their teams but also on their communities."

The Campbell Trophy® was first awarded in 1990 and honors Bill Campbell’s legacy as both a football coach and influential business leader known as "The Coach of Silicon Valley." The trophy has been displayed at its official home inside New York Athletic Club since 2013.

Fidelity Investments supports NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards through initiatives like NFF Faculty Salutes which recognize faculty athletics representatives from institutions with finalists for the Campbell Trophy®. Since its inception, Fidelity has donated $920,000 to academic support services through this program.

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