Madison Serrano and Russell Harmening have been named as Westmont’s recipients of the inaugural Cliff Hamlow Champions of Character Awards presented by the Golden State Athletic Conference.
The award is given to one male and one female student-athlete on each GSAC campus who demonstrates outstanding athletic achievement, campus and community leadership and future ambition and who embraces the five core character values of the NAIA Champions of Character program (Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Sportsmanship and Servant Leadership). Student-athletes must be at least a junior academically and carry a 3.0 GPA.
The award is named after former Commissioner Cliff Hamlow who served the conference from its inception in 1986 to 2012. Dr. Hamlow was also a key leader in the creation of the NAIA’s Champions of Character program.
Serrano is a four-year volleyball player who twice earned all-conference honors during her career. A political science major, Serrano was a member of the 2015 Mock United Nations Conference and helped Westmont earn honorable mention honors. She was also a 2014 recipient of the Westmont Athletics Golden Eagle Award.
Serrano is a co-captain of the volleyball team and a member of the leadership team for Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She also serves as a babysitter at her church, has participated in beach clean-ups and has volunteered ay Casa Esperanza Homeless Center.
Serrano would like to work in the news broadcast industry and become a producer. She is currently an intern for KEYT, Santa Barbara’s ABC affiliate.
Harmening is a junior from the Warriors’ baseball team and was the 2014 GSAC Pitcher of the Year after posting a record of 12-3 with an ERA of 2.47. The Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table named Harmening the 2014 College Baseball Pitcher of the Year. He also received NAIA All-American honorable mention recognition.
A mathematics major with a GPA of 3.77, Harmening was named a Co-SIDA Academic All-American in his sophomore year.
Harmening has volunteered in a series of youth baseball clinics and has participated in the Santa Barbara Heart Walk fundraiser. He has also participated in the United Way Day of Caring in Santa Barbara.
As for future plans, Harmening plans to attend graduate school and pursue a doctorate degree.
