Posted: Apr 05, 2016

Division III Week Student Spotlight – Dantavius Washington

This week is NCAA Division III Week and member institutions across the country are celebrating the fifth-year event.

Division III Week, which runs from Monday through Sunday, is intended to recognize the academic and athletic accomplishments as well as the campus leadership and community service efforts of Division III student-athletes.

As part of Huntingdon College's participation in Division III Week, six student-athletes will be featured this week. Huntingdon senior Dantavius Washington is today's featured student-athlete.

By Chuck Tidmore

Sports Information Assistant

Name: Dantavius Washington

Year: Senior

Hometown: Sterrett, Ala.

Major: Communications studies with a minor in English

Career Goals: Plans on attending UAB to earn a masters in public relations. Wants to be a real estate agent and a public relations director

Sport: Men's Basketball

Athletic Accomplishments: Washington played in 81 games during his four years at Huntingdon. He was named to the USA South Academic All-Conference team as a junior and led the Hawks in scoring and rebounding. As a sophomore, he scored a career-high 24 points against Berry. He recorded a career-high 14 rebounds at Sewanee as a junior. This past season, he finished fifth on the team in scoring and fourth in rebounding.

Academic Achievements and Campus Activities: Washington has experience in many different clubs and organizations at Huntingdon. Aside from the basketball team, he is the President of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee and is the Senator of Communications for the Student Government Association. He has been the director of the gospel choir, a communications scholar, a member of the black student union, tri sigma honor society and the environmental club.

What made you feel like Huntingdon was the right place for you? "I felt like they wanted me. To feel wanted is great and it made me feel like I was part of a family."

What has made your Huntingdon experience unique? "The individuals that I have met here have made it unique. It's a very diverse campus with a lot of different personalities and backgrounds and that has made my experience here unique and special."

How has Huntingdon challenged you academically and athletically? "Athletically, the competition that is brought in keeps you competitive. You always have to bring your best because there is someone behind you that wants your spot, or someone in front of you that is trying to hold on. Academically, balancing the coursework with athletics and different clubs can be challenging at times."

What has been your biggest highlight as a Huntingdon student-athlete? "I would have to say leading the team in scoring, rebounding, field-goal percentage per-game and free-throw percentage per-game after my junior year was pretty awesome. I was a captain with Jerome Davis and it was great leading and working with him. My other highlight would have to be making the conference championship game my sophomore year. There were some good seniors on that team."

As a student-athlete, what is your impression of Division III now compared to your first season? "Coming in I thought it would be easy. As I have grown and have seen the competition around me, I have realized that the talent doesn't change; only the size does. Having played Division III and seen who I have played against, my mindset has changed. It takes a lot of hard work to be successful in Division III."