Football | January 21, 2020

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Western Michigan senior quarterback Jon Wassink received the National Football Foundation (NFF) State of Michigan Chapter Michael R. Sadler D1 Scholar Athlete of the Year award on Saturday night. The award was presented at the Lansing Radisson Hotel during the 2020 Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Dream Team Banquet.
 
Named in honor of Mike Sadler, a former Michigan State punter who died in a car accident in Wisconsin in 2016, the award is presented to the outstanding Division I Scholar Athlete in Michigan. Wassink joins Zach Terrell (2016) as Bronco recipients.

A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Wassink has collected a number of off-the-field honors, including the 2019 Wuerffel Trophy, presented to the Football Bowl Subdivision football player who best exhibits exemplary community service. He was also one of 12 recipients of the 2019 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Award, presented by Fidelity Investments.
 
On the field, Wassink capped his Bronco career with 6,482 passing yards, good for the sixth most in program history. His 516 career completions rank seventh at WMU, and his .611 career completion percentage is fourth best. Wassink is also one of five Broncos to throw 50 or more career touchdown passes, connecting on No. 50 during the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.
 
A three-time Academic All-Mid-American Conference Football Team honoree and three-time MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete, Wassink was also named the Western Michigan Football John Gill Scholar-Athlete in 2017, 2018 and 2019. He has been named to the Western Michigan University Dean's List every semester on campus, achieving at least a 3.50 grade-point average on a scale of 4.00 each semester.
 
Wassink graduated from Western Michigan in December of 2018 with a degree in accountancy and is pursuing a master's degree in accountancy. He completed his undergraduate degree with a 3.95 grade-point average.
 
Off the field, Wassink is part of the Bronco Buddies program at the Tree of Life, a school that provides a Christ-centered education to all children regardless of socioeconomic status. He has been a four-year member of the program, taking part in its once-a-month activities on Sundays. Events include trips to go swimming, bowling or visit the zoo. During the spring of 2016, Wassink traveled to the Dominican Republic and helped build a basketball court for a village of 100 people. He also helped repair fences for a community bridge used by villagers daily and gained perspective and purpose through his work.

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