Florida Tech’s Dr. Frank Webbe Receives Prestigious David Knight Award

By  //  November 5, 2018

Florida Tech Professor of Psychology and Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Frank Webbe was the recipient of the 2018 David Knight Award presented by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Faculty Athletics Representative Association (FARA). (FIT Image)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Tech Professor of Psychology and Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Frank Webbe was the recipient of the 2018 David Knight Award presented by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Faculty Athletics Representative Association (FARA).

“The David Knight award is the highest award given to NCAA Faculty Athletics Representatives, so when my name was announced, I was humbled and surprised,” said Webbe.

“Humbled because there are so many deserving colleagues who could equally have been chosen. Surprised because the executive committee who choose the awardee does not release the name until the moment the award is given. I had no expectations that I would be honored and was wondering who might receive the award.”

The David Knight Award is named for one of the most influential Faculty Athletics Representatives to ever serve in the position. The award is presented annually to an individual who has provided outstanding service to FARA.

The award is in honor of David Knight, long-time faculty athletics representative at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a driving force behind the establishment of FARA. His dedication and commitment to the student-athlete, to collegiate sports and to the role that faculty play in shaping both were exemplary.

“I would like to thank the many people who have mentored me, worked with me, and believed in my ideas,” stated Webbe. “And those names would include all five presidents of Florida Tech from Dr. Keuper through Dr. McCay, and Athletics Director Bill Jurgens.”

“Dr. Webbe’s longstanding commitment to our student athletes is certainly worthy of national recognition,” said Florida Tech President Dwayne McCay. “His decades of experience stand as testimony to his dedication. We are lucky to have him at Florida Tech.”

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Dr. Webbe has been the only FAR ever at Florida Tech and has served in this role for more than 36 years. Additionally, he served in FARA as the Division II Representative and the Division II Vice President. Webbe has been on the organizing committee for the DII FAR Fellows Institute and the Advanced Leadership Institute. He also previously served on the Postgraduate Scholarship Regional Selection Committee.

“I was happy to hear about Dr. Frank Webbe receiving the 2018 David Knight Award from the NCAA,” exclaimed Florida Tech Athletic Director Bill Jurgens. “His many contributions and years of service to Florida Tech Athletics have been significant in shaping us into the program we are today.

“Dr. Webbe has done so much for Athletics over the years and still contributes in numerous ways by chairing special committees, overseeing student concerns, reviewing student participation logs, heading up our concussion management program, representing Florida Tech’s position on national matters at the NCAA, serving on our student-athlete mental health committee, serving as the liaison between athletics and faculty, as well as his dedication to the student-athletes and providing a well-rounded student-athlete experience.

“I don’t know of anyone more dedicated to the student-athletes at Florida Tech than Dr. Webbe. Athletics is forever grateful to Frank for his many years of outstanding service to Florida Tech Athletics, and I am so proud to call him a friend and colleague.”

“I love being the FAR at Florida Tech because it has put me in a position to assist student-athletes in having the resources they need to contend with two full-time activities,” Webbe added.

“These students contribute upwards of 20 hours per week to all aspects of their lives in a sport, and 30 or more hours per week in their studies. They graduate with grade point averages higher than the student body in general, and their learned ability to organize their lives and compartmentalize their efforts primes them for success in life.”

Webbe was presented the David Knight award by current FARA President, Dr. Julie Rochester, who is the FAR at Northern Michigan University.

The ceremony took place at the Baltimore Hilton as part of the annual FARA Symposium.

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