WACO, TEXAS (July 3, 2024) – Diego Zuniga of Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) has achieved a remarkable feat, earning the esteemed title of the 2023-2024 Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Etier Character Male Athlete of the Year, a recognition of unparalleled honor and prestige, as announced by the RRAC on Tuesday.

Now in its eighth year, the award is given annually to one male and one female RRAC student-athlete who best represents the tenets of the NAIA Champions of Character program (respect, responsibility, integrity, sportsmanship, and servant leadership). To be eligible, student-athletes must be nominated by their respective RRAC member institution. Schools are allowed to nominate one male and one female student-athlete. All nominees were considered finalists, and the RRAC Champions of Character Committee selected the winners in voting.

The awards were posthumously named for Betty Etier, an NAIA/RRAC Hall of Famer, RRAC Eligibility Chair for 18 years, and an associate professor and faculty athletics representative at Huston-Tillotson University (Texas). Etier's legacy is deeply ingrained in the RRAC, as she made a lasting impression on everyone involved and played a pivotal role in shaping the conference from its inception.

Zuniga, who just completed his sophomore year, is a junior from McAllen, Texas, and a two-year starter at catcher for the Saints' baseball team. He holds a 3.1 GPA in Kinesiology and was selected to be a member of the McNair Scholars Program because of his characteristics as a student-athlete and his excellence in the classroom. The McNair program is federally funded and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, preparing Zuniga for post-graduate work through his participation in academic and community-related activities. Zuniga was installed as a catcher when he arrived at OLLU due to his leadership and the example he sets for his teammates. He plans on completing his final two years on the baseball team at OLLU before exploring a career in athletics.

"It has been a pleasure having Diego on the team," says OLLU Head Baseball Coach Matt Piker. "He is a great leader. The men look up to him and follow his lead both on the field and in the community and classroom. He has been a great addition to the 'brotherhood;' I look forward to what he will do this upcoming year."