The award, chosen by a nationwide vote of Division I men’s soccer coaches, national soccer media and fans, is given annually to the most outstanding senior student-athlete in Division I men’s soccer. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – classroom, community, character and competition.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.

“First, I would like to say thank you to the Senior CLASS Award committee for selecting me to represent this award from among the many other extremely deserving candidates,” Kristock said. “Next, I want to say thank you to all of the Oakland University family as well as many other amazing groups I have been connected with that helped me throughout the voting. Their support was relentless, and I could never thank them adequately.

“Lastly, I really need to express how grateful I am for the many people close to me that helped me during my entire soccer career,” Kristock added. “Those people that supported me so passionately will not be able to have their name on this award, but I hope they all know how humbled I am by the recognition and how honored I am to represent them. No one ever does it alone, and I owe so much of what I have accomplished as a student-athlete to the people who have impacted me along the way. It is these amazing people that have earned this award. Thank you all, and Fight Oakland.”

A human resources major who graduated last spring and is currently working on his masters in business administration, Kristock was named the Oakland University Student Leader of the Year and was the recipient of the Human Relations Award, exemplifying superior academic and co-curricular achievement by a graduating senior. He is the president and founder of the non-profit organization Gigs for Good that funds Christian missionaries around the globe. He also recently founded Mission 50K, a service-based movement that is seeking to accrue 50,000 service/volunteer hours in a six-month span.

“I am so excited for Nick, our program, our athletic department and our university,” said Oakland head coach Eric Pogue. “For Nick to receive such a tremendous award that epitomizes everything he stands for is an absolutely amazing accomplishment. I can’t think of another young man in my 12 years at Oakland University that really defines the words ‘class’ and ‘student-athlete.’ Nick is a leader on the field, in the classroom, in the community, and amongst his fellow students at Oakland. At Oakland soccer, we have always prided ourselves in being complete young men that are great representatives of the university and Nick exemplifies that.”

Kristock was named to the All-Horizon League second team following a senior season in which the Golden Grizzlies went 7-7-5. As team captain, he started every game this season. He has been a part of two league championship teams and helped OU advance to the NCAA tournament in 2010.

“Nick has shown by his actions on and off the field that he is a leader for Oakland,” said Erik Miner, executive director for the Senior CLASS Award. “He’s demonstrated what a great role model a student-athlete can be for young kids. Nick is a great representative of this award and of student-athletes across the country.”