Blaine Bursey of Middleburg, Fla., Repeats as Fred Mitchell Award September Honoree

2016 Sep 28

For the second consecutive season WPI senior Blaine Bursey has been recognized by the Fred Mitchell Award committee for his achievements on the football field and in the community during the month of September.

Bursey leads the Engineers in scoring with 32 points from 6-of-8 FGs and 14-of-16 PATs. The junior has already been named Liberty League Special Teams Performer of the Week twice. He converted all four PAT attempts and all three field goal opportunities, including the overtime game-winner to lift WPI past MIT, 37-34 in week one. Bursey followed it up by accounting for 10 of the Engineers 41 points against Worcester State. He was successful on all four PATs and was effective from 35 and 36 yards in the second half. Bursey also averaged 60.8 yards per kickoff for a total of 486 yards and one touchback. His performance against the Lancers also earned him a spot on the D3football.com Team of the Week.

The junior also volunteers for the Florida American Legion Boys State program, at Burncoat Prep, tutoring, mentoring and participating in various athletic activities, and is involved with football team's mentoring with Team IMPACT.

The 16 honorees represent five different college divisions nationally - NCAA FCS (3), NCAA II (5), NCAA III (5), NAIA (1) and NJCAA (2).

The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award will be announced in mid-December based on performance on the football field and in the community. Details are provided at www.fredmitchellaward.com.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI is one of the nation's first engineering and technology universities. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. WPI's talented faculty work with students on interdisciplinary research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields as diverse as the life sciences and bioengineering, energy, information security, materials processing, and robotics. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference to communities and organizations around the world through the university's innovative Global Projects Program. There are more than 45 WPI project centers throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.