Pless earns Outstanding Senior Award 

This story first appeared in the Johnson City Press.

Bo Pless of the Milligan College men's basketball team was honored with the Ivor Jones Outstanding Senior Award at this year's college award ceremony. 

The Ivor Jones Outstanding Senior Award recipient is chosen by the faculty who demonstrates outstanding performance in service to the college, potential for continuing the objectives of the college, a notable academic record and participation in college life. This is one of the highest student honors awarded at the college. 

"Milligan has been very good to me over the past four years, and this community has helped me grow in so many ways," Pless said. "I've been blessed to be surrounded by wonderful friends and mentors who have made my time here such a great experience. To be recognized in this way by an institution for which I have so much love and respect is a huge honor, and I am so grateful to receive this award."

Pless, a Niswonger Scholar and Jeanes Honors scholarship recipient, is an engineering major and a member of the men's basketball team all four years that he has attended Milligan. He has been named to the Appalachian Athletic Conference All-Academic team all three years that he was eligible and was named the team's Champion of Character his freshman year and earned a spot on the AAC All-Freshman team. For the 2017-18 season, Pless was named the AAC individual champion of character. The award is given to one female and one male AAC student-athlete each year based on their character and service toward their team, institution, conference and community.

"Bo Pless has been a wonderful addition to our program and the Milligan College community," head men's basketball coach Bill Robinson said. "I have known him since he was in sixth grade and it was obvious even then that he was destined to do great things. He is exactly the type of student-athlete we are looking for at Milligan. That person that can thrive in the classroom, succeed on the court and do it in a way where people can see Jesus in him on a daily basis. There will never be another one quite like Bo Pless," Robinson added.