Gilmour’s award honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence and service/leadership of LGBTQ student-athletes. A student-athlete, a coach and a university were recognized as the inaugural Division III LGBTQ OneTeam Recognition Award winners at the NCAA Convention in January.
“Kena is one of the most outstanding student-athletes ever to attend Hamilton and someone who epitomizes a true student-athlete experience,” Hamilton Head Men’s Basketball Coach Adam Stockwell said. “His journey embodies the Hamilton motto of ‘Know Thyself’ and we are extremely excited for Kena in receiving this award.”
The award caps an outstanding four-year career for Gilmour, who was also chosen the male winner of the 2020 Jostens Trophy last March. The Jostens Trophy is a national award that takes into account basketball ability, academic prowess, and community service.
Gilmour was a three-time member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) all-district team, the D3hoops.com all-region team and the all-NESCAC team. The government major and women’s and gender studies minor finished with a cumulative grade point average of 3.70 and earned a spot on the NESCAC winter all-academic team three times. The New Paltz, N.Y., native was voted to the 2019-20 Academic All-America® NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America and placed on the first team.
Gilmour led the Continentals to four NESCAC championship appearances including the 2019 tournament final, and the team advanced to the third round of the NCAA championship in Gilmour’s sophomore and junior years. Gilmour collected all-America awards from the coaches and D3hoops.com in 2019 when he was named the NABC district and NESCAC player of the year. Gilmour finished his career in fifth place on the team’s all-time scoring list with 1,935 points, and he helped lead the Hamilton men to an overall record of 81-28.
Some of Gilmour’s community service highlights were Clinton Elementary School’s “Fun Fridays,” which allows students to see college athletes as role models, and participation in relief and fundraising efforts for at least six organizations. Gilmour worked with former Hamilton Associate Athletic Director Miriam Merrill to create the Athletes of Color Initiative, a support group for students of color at the College. He was a residential advisor for Hamilton's Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), which provided live-in guidance and support to 40 pre-matriculated students.
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Outsports article: “Gay basketball player Kena Gilmour was out to his college team for three seasons”
