February 10, 2011
Northeastern Junior College sophomore women’s basketball players Lynnae Cox and Nicole Burns were co-named winners of the Andi Whitlock Heart Award for 2011. The award was presented in early February during half-time of a home game against Trinidad State Junior College.
Voted on by the coaches and the players each year, this award is given to a Plainswomen basketball player who her peers believe defines ‘heart.’ The award honors the memory of a young woman named Andi Whitlock, of New Raymer, Colorado, who played at NJC from 2001-2003. Andi was part of a team that won the Region IX title and made a trip to the national tournament.
She had finished her training at NJC as an emergency medical technician and was working in Logan County for the local ambulance service when tragically, her own life was cut short when she died from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident in 2004.
Following her death, a fellow student, John Wilson of Fort Collins, who played baseball at NJC at the same time as when Andi attended here, purchased a beautiful wood plaque which is on permanent display and bears the names of each year’s winner. Later, a group called Feeders and Friends, headquartered in the New Raymer area, named Andi as the beneficiary of their annual feedlot rodeo and auction fundraiser and more than $30,000 was donated to the NJC Foundation for scholarships to be awarded in her name. Andi played with tremendous heart and each year the coaches and players select someone from the team that they believe represents her spirit both on and off the court.
Lynnae Cox, a 5’7” sophomore came to NJC from Fleming High School. Nichole Burns is a 5’9” sophomore player from Peetz, CO.
Andi’s mother, Sandy Whitlock, and her brother, Seth Whitlock, were on hand for the 2011 presentation.
Pictured here during the Andi Whitlock Award ceremony are, left to right: Assistant Coach Dave Huss, Head Coach Darrel Parker, Lynnae Cox, Nichole Burns, Sandy Whitlock and Seth Whitlock. (Photo courtesy of Steve Marshall)