This award is given to a single individual every year, selected by a student vote.

McDowell earned his master’s degree from the School of Education’s Department of Counseling Psychology in 1992.

McDowell is a full-time faculty member at Madison College, where he instructs in psychology. He also serves as a mental strength program instructor for Madison College’s athletic department, is a faculty tutor in the Student Achievement Center, and is a faculty fellow for the MATC Center for International Education.