Bret Robertson of Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., has been named as one of three finalists for the 2015 Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
Coordinated by the staff at the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, the Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the FWAA was created in June 2012 "to honor an individual and/or a group with a military background and/or involvement that has an impact within the realm of college football."
The award's selection committee is made up of five FWAA members and two representatives from the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. The group reviewed 18 "candidates" for the 2015 honor where Robertson was confirmed as one of three finalists for the award.
The names of the last two finalists for the 2015 Armed Forces Merit Award presented by the FWAA will be revealed later this week with this year's recipient being announced this Veteran's Day, November 11. The announcement of the 2015 recipient will be made jointly by Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl Executive Director Brant Ringler and FWAA President Lee Barfknecht of the Omaha World-Herald on an 11 a.m. (CT) teleconference.
Nate Boyer of the University of Texas was named the initial recipient of the award in 2012, Brandon McCoy of the University of North Texas topped the AFMA list in 2013 and Daniel Rodriguez from Clemson University was honored last season.
After graduating from California (Mo.) High School in 2008, Robertson enlisted in the U. S. Army where he served more than three years. He was deployed to Iraq for one year and received the Army Commendation Medal along with his Purple Heart for his service.
A three-season starter for Westminster, the 25-year old Robertson is serving his second season as the captain on a team that has won five of nine games in 2015. Westminster concludes its season Saturday at home against Minnesota-Morris as the Blue Jays seek to clinch third-place in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference.
After missing his freshman season due to injuries, Robertson has compiled 209 total tackles during his 28-game Blue Jay career with 127 solo stops. He has also intercepted six passes (78 return yards) during his career with three forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, 8.5 tackles for losses and four pass breakups in two-plus seasons.
A second team pick on the 2014 UMAC's all-conference football squad, Robertson is a member of the Westminster track team where he holds the javelin record with a 54.44-meter (178.6-feet) last March after winning the 2014 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Championship.
Courtesy of Tim Simmons, Armed Forces Merit Award
