Finance Senior Chris Hill named Academic
All-American of the Year

Chris Hill

The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) recently named Chris Hill, a Broad School senior finance major and varsity basketball team starting guard, as the 2005 Academic All-American of the Year, its highest honor. A First-Team Academic All-American in 2004 and a Third-Team Academic All-American in 2003, Hill currently boasts a 3.75 GPA. He is only the fourth Spartan in MSU college basketball history to earn Academic All-America honors, joining Greg Kelser (1979) and fellow Broad School alumni Ralph Simpson (1970) and Matt Steigenga (1990).

"Being named Academic All-American of the Year is an unbelievable honor," Hill said. "I probably won't be able to fully appreciate what it means until years later when I look back at my college career. I give a lot of credit to my parents for instilling the work ethic and discipline in me, both academically and athletically."

Several people at the Broad School helped Hill along the way, including his academic advisor, Elizabeth Booth. "As his advisor, I am very proud of Chris and all he has accomplished in his four years at MSU," she said. "On a personal note, it's nice to see one of the 'nice' guys get recognition for his accomplishments… Chris works very hard; he doesn't try to take the easy way out or ask for special favors. He embodies the true spirit of the student athlete."

Finance Department Chair Geoffrey Booth and RBC Capital Markets Managing Director and Broad School alumni Kurt Hallead (BA Financial Administration '88) were also able to help Hill strengthen his finance background while maintaining a balance between basketball and academics by arranging an on-line internship at RBC in Austin, Texas for him. "We wanted Chris to have a taste of investment banking and equity investing, but due to his basketball schedule, it was not feasible for him to pursue a traditional internship," Booth said. "Kurt worked this out so Chris teleconferenced with him and did most of the work long distance."

Hill plans to pursue a basketball career after graduation, but he also is focused on getting an MBA in the near future. His advisor is confident that Hill has a promising future ahead of him. "I know whatever he pursues he will be successful, as he has tremendous drive and motivation," she said.

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