LEWISTON, Idaho - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced that Adam Cellini of Embry-Riddle is the 2013 Hank Burbridge Champions of Character Award winner at the Avista-NAIA World Series tournament banquet on Thursday night on the campus of Lewis-Clark State College. The Eagles' starting catcher for the last three seasons, Cellini was awarded the highest Champions of Character honor in NAIA baseball for his representation of the five core character values the organization embraces: Respect, Responsibility, Servant Leadership, Sportsmanship and Integrity.

Named after long-time Spring Arbor baseball coach Hank Burbridge, the NAIA Baseball Coaches Association created the Hank Burbridge Champions of Character Award in the spring of 2004 to annually recognize an NAIA baseball player that displays exemplary character and sportsmanship on the field of play, on their campuses and in their communities. In addition, winners of the Burbridge award consistently model the NAIA Champions of Character initiative's five core values.

A native of Marietta, Ga., Cellini transfered to Embry-Riddle after one season at Belmont University, becoming the Blue and Gold's starting catcher as a sophomore. Cellini earned the 2012 Sun Conference baseball Champions of Character award as a junior and was named the Embry-Riddle Communications' Department Senor Student of the Year this past spring. He has twice earned Sun Conference Academic All-Conference honors and twice been named a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete as well as claiming a roster spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District team this season. Cellini becomes the second Eagle to collect the award, following Chris Maloney in 2008.

"Adam is one of the best embodiments of character I have ever coached," Embry-Riddle Head Coach Randy Stegall said. "He came to Embry-Riddle looking for a fresh start with baseball and will leave with a prestigous degree, three NAIA World Series appearances and the Hank Burbridge Award just to name a few accolades. Adam is what Embry-Riddle as a University, Embry-Riddle as an athletic department and this team is all about."

Embry-Riddle Associate Director of Athletics John Phillips echoed Stegall's remarks: "Adam's leadership both behind the plate and off the field over the last three seasons has been the foundaiton of our team. He's been a perfect fit on the field, in the classroom and in the community. He's the consumate teammate and I can't think of anyone more deserving to win the Hank Burbridge Award."

Not only do Cellini's successes come off the field, but on it as well. The 5-9 senior was named a first team All-Sun Conference performer this year after earning Sun Conference Gold Glove honors as a junior. Cellini etched his name into the Embry-Riddle record book by breaking the program's all-time putouts record in 2013 and he enters the World Series with 957 total in three years behind the dish for the Eagles.

Embry-Riddle will start its march towards the 2013 National Championship tomorrow, Friday, May 24 at 3 p.m. (PDT) against York (Neb.). Visit the 2013 Embry-Riddle World Series Headquarters for all the information pertaining to the Eagles' stay in the Lewis-Clark Valley.