From Appalachian Athletic Conference Sports Information

MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TN (May 21, 2007) --- At the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) annual business meeting on Monday, the AAC awarded the Duard Walker All-Sports Trophy to Milligan College with 575 points. Milligan has previously won the award six times, the first six years of the award’s existence. Last year’s winner, Virginia Intermont College, finished second with 510 points. Union College (Ky.) finished third with 450 points, while King College (Tenn.) was fourth with 420.

The AAC Duard Walker All-Sports Trophy was established as a way of recognizing member institutions with the most successful all-around sports program for the year. Member institutions compete in fourteen sports: baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, tennis and track and field for men; along with basketball, cross-country, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field and volleyball for women. Points are awarded based on team place finish in the regular season and sport conference championship tournament or event.

The trophy was named the Duard Walker Trophy in 2000 in honor of Duard Walker who retired that year after 50 years of service to Milligan College as teacher, coach and athletics director. Walker was named the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Athletics Director of the Year for 2001.

The AAC, an affiliated conference within the NAIA, consists of ten colleges and universities in Tennessee, Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky and North Carolina. Member institutions include: Bluefield College, Bryan College, Covenant College, King College, Milligan College, Montreat College, Tennessee Wesleyan College, Union College, the University of Virginia's College at Wise and Virginia Intermont College.