UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR

FRED BILETNIKOFF AWARD JOSH STWEART

An Out of Class Assignment Submitted for Course Number EXSS 3310 Communication of Sport

By Kaley Jackson Magnolia, Texas March 18, 2014

#5 Josh Stewart In order to be up for a college award you must be one heck of an athlete. Many high school athletes dream of playing a college sport one day but most dont get to. That is not the case for Senior Receiver Josh Stewart. Playing in high school at Denton Guyer in Denton, Texas, Josh played under the direction Coach John Walsh. Josh played in two high school State Championship games, winning one of them. He committed to the University of Oklahoma State his senior year with long time best friend J.W. Walsh. The 185 lbs receiver chose to come to The University of Oklahoma State for what he believed was a great athletic program and a school that offers many opportunities. After verbally committing to the University of Texas A&M his junior year, Stewart believed that going to OSU would be a better choice for him, and he has proven that by the way that he has performed on and off the field. Keeping a 3.2 GPA through-out his college career, Stewart believed that the only way that football would get him anywhere in life is if he tried his best at everything that he did. In 2012, Stewart was the leading receiver for OSU as well as the Big 12. Stewart finished his season sixth all-time at Oklahoma State with 2,204 receiving yards and fourth all-time with 180 career receptions, he also ranks ninth all-time at OSU with 438 punt return yards. The Fred Biletnikoff award was started in 1994, rewarding the best receiver in college athletics, voted on by the coaches and a committee. The award is also for student athletes that

have success on and off the field. As a student athlete, Josh has shown to be successful in the class room, but football for him is a hobby. He loves to make people happy. In off season and his free time, he tutors kids, works football camps during the summer, helps with orphanages and is an active member of a local church and its youth group. Growing up Stewarts family was all killed right before his eyes. He wants to help kids get through life as easy as possible and have a good childhood unlike himself. Stewart appreciates the opportunity to be up for The Fred Biletnikoff award. As part of his campaign, and a way for the local media and the community to learn a little more about Stewart, he will be holding a local press conference for 30 minutes this coming Wednesday at 8:00 AM, March 19th outside the OSU locker room in the field house on the Campus of OSU. Stewart has asked for the press conference to be focused on his accomplishments at OSU and how being a student athlete has changed his life, as this press conference is helping him win an award. As we have said before, Stewart is very active with his church and the community as well as he loves kids. He has planned to do an autograph signing and photo opportunity with the community on Friday the 21st of March on the football field of the OSU cowboys. He will have football pictures there to sign, but encourages his fans to bring their own footballs, caps, t-shirts, etc. for him to sign. He would also be willing to take pictures with everyone. The autographs and photo taking will begin at 4 PM and will run through 6 PM. After 6 PM as a last opportunity to interact with the community, Stewart will be catching some different passes and running on the field with longtime friend and Quarterback of the Cowboys J.W. Walsh. He encourages the kids to bring a football and he would love to throw some passes with them. Josh Stewart as you have seen is a loyal and determined student athlete. He has tried his hardest in all that he has encountered in his life and likes to be a role model to the young kids

who have inspirations and desires. One of his favorite saying is, Every dream can be fulfilled, if you keep trying your hardest. As stated before the Fred Biletnikoff award is not only for the best wide receiver, the committee takes into accountability the outside life and the responsibilities that the student athlete encounters. After this season Stewart will be entering in the 2014 NFL draft to try to fulfill his lifelong dream of playing professionally.