Concordia University Chicago Athletics

Jack Walker BA '09 earned his bachelor's degree in secondary education from Concordia University Chicago in 2009. 

Walker was a four-year starter of the Cougar Baseball team from 2005-2009 and played a pivotal role in their success, including the school's first-ever appearance at the NCAA Division III Regionals in 2009. That year, the Cougars participated at the Mideast Regional in Adrian, MI, following a 33-15 season that won both the regular-season and tournament title for the Northern Athletics Conference. Walker's success on the field resulted in the creation of an eponymous award that is given to a key player on the Cougar baseball team each year, as voted on by team members. 

By the end of his career in the maroon and gold, Walker owned five career program records and five single-season records, two of which still stand today. The career records include games played (176), runs scored (211), walks (135), hits (235), and stolen bases (68). The single-season records include runs (60), hits (71), and assists broken three times (127, 127, 135). 

After college, Walker went on to be the second player in program history to be drafted into Major League Baseball (MLB) after being selected as the number one pick in the 20th round by the Washington Nationals in 2009.