Already one of the most decorated athletes in Central College history, the spotlight shined on former quarterback Blaine Hawkins one more time last week as he received the NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award during the organization’s Honors Celebration in San Antonio, Texas.

Hawkins, a 2021 Central graduate with a double major in economics and business management, carried a 3.61 grade point average. An Ankeny, Iowa native and Ankeny High School graduate, he now serves as an associate in public finance investment banking for Piper Sandler Companies in Denver, Colorado.

Hawkins became the third athlete ever from an Iowa college or university to receive the NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award. Central’s Emilie (Hanson) Brown was the first, in 1996. The award honors 10 exceptional former student-athletes from across all NCAA divisions for their successes on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The recipients completed their athletics eligibility during the 2021-22 academic year. 

Hawkins was also named the American Rivers Conference Duane Schroeder Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the 2021-22 academic year. The 2021 Gagliardi Trophy winner as the outstanding Division III player, Hawkins shattered nearly all of Central’s passing records and set an all-divisions NCAA mark with 63 touchdown passes in 2021.