July 13, 2000

Milwaukee - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee senior Paul McGinley (Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln) has been named the 1999-2000 men's recipient of the Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor.

McGinley is the first UWM male athlete to earn the award and the first Panther since women's soccer player Lisa Krzykowski won the award in 1997-98.

The Midwestern Collegiate Conference's highest individual honor, the Coleman Award is presented annually to the MCC's top male and female student-athletes who best exemplify the dignity and high purpose of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference and its membership. The individuals demonstrate outstanding achievement in academics, athletics and extracurricular activities. Candidates must be seniors who have exhausted their eligibility and have participated on the varsity level in a conference-sponsored sport. In addition, nominees must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or its equivalent.

McGinley, a standout in field events and sprints for the Panthers, recently wrapped up a track and field career that saw him claim eight MCC championships over his four years. He was a four-time champion in the long jump (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000), two-time champion in the javelin (1998, 1999), and champion in the pole vault (2000) and 55 meter dash (1997). He also had 12 other finishes of third place or higher in MCC championship events. The school-record holder in the Decathlon, McGinley was a 2000 GTE/CoSIDA first team Academic All-District selection and a GTE/CoSIDA third team Academic All-America selection. McGinley has been a member of the UWM dean's list the past five years. He was the UWM Alumni Association Herman Kluge Award winner this past year, and volunteers his time for numerous causes in the Milwaukee area.