CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri quarterback Paxton DeLaurent is one of six individuals to receive the prestigious Ohio Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Award for 2024-25.

The award is the highest individual honor that can be earned by OVC student-athletes and is given annually to three men and three women student-athletes for their accomplishments in both the classroom and athletic arena, and because of their leadership qualities.
 
These six winners were selected from a group of finalists by a vote of OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives. Honorees must have performed athletically with distinction, earned at least a 3.5 grade-point average and conducted themselves in a manner which has brought credit to the student-athlete, his or her institution, intercollegiate athletics and the OVC. The award is based on academic and athletic criteria/accomplishments achieved during the 2023-24 school year.

DeLaurent, along with Mackenzie Alridge (Eastern Illinois cross country/track & field), Izzy Patterson (UT Martin soccer), Chad Smith (Eastern Illinois soccer), Katie Toney (Tennessee Tech soccer) and Jonathan Xoinis (UT Martin golf) are this year's recipients.

A native of Camdenton, Missouri, DeLaurent is in his third year as SEMO's starting quarterback. He is a finalist for the FedEx Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award which is celebrating its 10th anniversary season and honors an FCS student-athlete who exemplifies excellence on the field, in the classroom and across the community.

Statistically, DeLaurent has broken five SEMO career records in 2024. He leads the Big South-OVC and ranks fifth in the FCS with 2,912 passing yards. DeLaurent has thrown 23 touchdown passes ranking seventh nationally in that category. He also ranks sixth in passing yards per game (291.2) and seventh in points responsible for (152). He was named Big South-OVC Offensive Player of the Week four times.
 
In the classroom, DeLaurent has a 3.591 GPA in three years at SEMO in physical education (his overall college GPA is 3.969). A year ago, he was named to the Big South-OVC All-Academic Team while also earning the OVC Academic Medal of Honor and being named to the SEMO President's List. He has served as a counselor at the prestigious Manning Passing Academy, as well as at FCS Football Camps. In addition, DeLaurent has been a tutor at local elementary schools.