Triton senior Brooklyn Beatty is surrounded by, from left, Randy Lemert, Bradley Beatty, Erin Beatty and Eric Ferguson after winning the W.B. Hawkins scholarship Saturday night at the Bi-County basketball tournament. (Photo provided by Orion Lemler)

SOUTH BEND – Teachers Credit Union (TCU) awarded two student-athletes with the annual W.B. Hawkins Award for excellence in academics and athletics at the 51st annual TCU Bi-County Tournament in northern Indiana this past weekend.

W.B Hawkins award winner Benjamin Nick is surrounded by Randy Lemert, Chuck Nick, Debra Nick and Eric Ferguson.

The winners of the 2016 W.B. Hawkins Award are Brooklyn Beatty of Triton High School and Benjamin Nick from Bremen High School. Both student-athlete winners’ school will receive a $1,000 scholarship in the student’s name.

Ms. Beatty, a senior, maintains a 4.00 GPA while participating in basketball and softball at Triton. Beatty gives back to her community volunteering with various organizations such as Heminger House of Love, Blessings in a Back Pack and Feed My Starving Children. Beatty is ranked near the top of her class and is a member of Key Club, Student Council and National Honor Society.

Mr. Nick, a senior, maintains a 3.95 GPA. Nick is a member of the baseball, basketball and football teams at Bremen. In addition to being an active student-athlete, Nick has participated in many community service activities including a mission trip to Tennessee, Relay For Life, Eagle Scout projects, food drives, 30 Hours of Famine and basketball and football camps for kids. Nick is ranked in the top five in his class and is a member of the Key Club, Student Council and National Honor Society.

As former President of TCU, W. B. Hawkins provided the leadership and foresight that enabled TCU to become the largest Credit Union in the State of Indiana. Hawkins understood the importance of being a leader and the importance of developing leaders. To honor Mr. Hawkins, TCU has chosen to annually award the W. B. Hawkins Award at this tournament, which exemplifies what Mr. Hawkins represented at TCU and in our community.