The Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year Awards began in 2000-01 to annually recognize student-athletes who displayed an extraordinary degree of sportsmanship and/or community service during the academic year. A male and female are honored each year.

The following student-athletes have been nominated for 2015-16 Big 12 Male Sportsperson of the Year. Criteria for the award includes examples of sportsmanship and ethical conduct, citizenship within the campus and community as well as academic achievement. The two winners will be named on Thursday, June 23.

Spencer Drango, Baylor

Football, Sr., Cedar Park, Texas

• Named a 2015 CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-America and four-time Academic All-Big 12 Honoree.

• Was a 2015 NFF National Scholar-Athlete/Campbell Trophy Finalist and earned his degree in finance in December 2014. Drango began pursuing his MBA in Spring 2015.

• An integral member of the community, Drango took a two week volunteer trip to Brazil in May 2015 and served as the president of Baylor's chapter of Uplifting Athletes in 2015.

• Selected as a captain of the 2015 Baylor Football team and was a unanimous All-America selection.

Perry Ellis, Kansas

Basketball, Sr., Wichita, Kan.

• 2015 & 2016 recipient of the Danny Manning 'Mr. Jayhawk' award, given to a student-athlete that exudes all the qualities and characteristics of a leader.

• A leader both on and off the court, Ellis is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree and was an All-Big 12 First Team selection as a junior.

• Named the 2015 and 2016 Big 12 Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

• Spends numerous hours volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club, mentoring young children, in addition to spending time volunteering at the Wichita Children's Home.

Buddy Hield, Oklahoma

Basketball, Sr., Freeport, Bahamas

• Graduated with a degree in human relations in May of 2016. Was named Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2015 and Second Team in 2016.

• Winner of the 2016 Wooden Award, Naismith Trophy and Oscar Robertson Trophy, along with being a two-time Big 12 Player of the Year recipient and consensus first-team All-American.

• Often spent his time visiting local elementary schools to read in classrooms and participate with the students in math and computer lab.

• Overall standout both on and off the court, Hield always included his teammates in awards presentations and acceptance speeches and returned to the court following games to interact with fans of both teams.

Caylin Moore, TCU

Football, Sr., Carson, Calif.

• Named a TCU Scholar and to the TCU Dean's List throughout his college career.

• Is the founder and president of TCU's P.A.R.K. Youth outreach program.

• Was a volunteer tutor for elementary school youth in inner-city Poughkeepsie, N.Y. during the Spring of 2015 through the R.E.A.L. Skills Network.

• Volunteered at LaDanian Tomlinson's Touching Lives Foundation 'Giving Thanks' Turkey Giveaway at TCU in 2015.

Beau Hossler, Texas

Golf, Jr., Mission Viejo, Calif.

• Participates in multiple charity golf events through the year, including the Longhorn Alumni ProAm Tournament and helped raise money for Folds of Honor and Susan G. Komen Foundation.

• Fought through a serious shoulder injury to help send Texas to the NCAA Championship match in dramatic fashion.

• Majoring in Finance, Hossler was named to the 2014 CoSIDA Academic All-District At-Large team in the Spring of 2014.

• Was named Academic All-Big 12 First Team in Spring 2014 and was named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll in both Spring 2013 and Fall 2013.

Avery Schneider, West Virginia

Golf, So., New Albany, Ohio

• 2016 recipient of the WVU Golf Academic Achievement Award and was named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll.

• Visited local library to read to children alongside his teammates and visited ICU patients at WVU Children's hospital.

• Showed his honesty and integrity on the course after calling a penalty on himself when there were no scorers to witness the infraction.

• Speaks to children regarding the responsibilities of being a student-athlete.