Lease has personified the NAIA’s Champion of Character core values of sportsmanship, responsibility, respect, integrity and service leadership. Over the past four years as a student-athlete at Milligan, Lease has visited the residents at Appalachian Christian Village every week through Service Seekers. Additionally, she has coordinated service projects with the Milligan track and cross country teams to beautify the campus at Milligan and volunteered numerous hours with Habitat for Humanity and other area service organizations.  

“Megan’s ability to include the NAIA Core Values in her daily routine is the reason she’s been so successful on and off the field of play,” said Milligan head cross country and track coach Chris Layne. “She makes a genuine commitment to each and every task she approaches and does not let up until she has reached her goal.”

Lease is a five-time NAIA All-American and has qualified for the 2006 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the marathon. She was a member of three straight Appalachian Athletic Conference and NAIA Region XII cross country championship teams (2003-2005).

During the 2005 cross country season, Lease led the Lady Buffs with an All-American performance, as she finished 15th at the NAIA National Championship. She also won the AAC and Region XII individual championships.

A senior history major, Lease is consistently named to the Milligan College Dean’s List and to the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) All-Academic Team.

“Megan is a very humble and quiet person who never touts her own accomplishments and work,” said Milligan vice president for student development Mark Fox. “No matter who you are, if you have had contact with Megan, she has impacted your life.”

The award is named after Dr. LeRoy Walker, president emeritus of the United States Olympic Committee, who served as president through the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games. Dr. Walker is a graduate of Benedict College (S.C.) and is a former president of the NAIA. In 1995, Dr. Walker was recognized with the Service Master-NAIA distinguished Graduate of the Year Award.