EAST STROUDSBURG - Murvin English, a member of the East Stroudsburg University men's basketball team, has been chosen to participate in the 2006 NCAA Leadership Conference.

English was among the 1,319 nominees from 333 institutions and will spend May 28 through June 1 at Disney's Yacht Beach Club Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

English, a sport management major from Philadelphia, was among the 353 student-athletes who were chosen to attend the conference. Among the criteria were academic performance, community service and an essay by the student-athlete detailing an experience as a leader in a non-athletic situation and what they learned from it.

While in Florida, English will meet with student-athletes from Divisions I, II and III and leadership representatives from the NCAA. The student-athletes will spend time in small groups with the focus on team building, strategizing, long and short term planning and empowerment.

When English returns, he will work with CHAMPS/Life Skills Coordinator Dr. Shala Davis and Academic Coordinator for Athletics Professor Nancy Jo Greenawalt to develop a plan for ESU, based on what he learned at the conference and what initiatives he feels are worth pursuing.

"Murvin has demonstrated over his tenure at ESU the qualities of academic success, leadership, and team-building that is the foundation of the NCAA Leadership Conference Initiatives," said Davis, who nominated English. "I am very confident Murvin will continue to represent the university in the fashion that earned him this nomination and selection."

This is the third straight year a men's basketball player has been chosen to participate in the conference. Anthony Ross represented ESU two years ago and Sky Quinones-Williams was selected to participate last year. East Stroudsburg University has had a representative chosen to attend the conference each of the last seven years.

"The appointment by Murvin English to attend this leadership conference is very much deserved," ESU men's basketball coach Jeff Wilson said. "Throughout Murvin's time, he has been a great representative to the university and to the men's basketball team and has taken a role in leadership opportunities in the campus community. Murvin's goal is to be actively involved in sport management and this conference will allow him the opportunity to be one of the leaders in his chosen field."

Last year, Quinones-Williams developed a plan to increase attendance at athletic events and English will develop his own plan, based on discussions with other student-athletes, Faculty Athletic Representatives, Academic Coordinators and the NCAA leadership representatives. The student-athletes will discuss ideas on a wide range of topics, including charity work, attendance, community services and the role of student-athletes.

"This conference is another example of the great work our student-athletes do outside the classroom," ESU athletic director Dr. Tom Gioglio said. "For seven consecutive years, ESU has been represented on a national stage and I am proud of the efforts of Dr. Davis and Murvin to earn this honor."