ROBERT L. AND WILLIAM P. McCAHILL AWARD
Joseph T. Keys, Eng ’21, Graduate student
Downers Grove, Ill.
Joe Keys is an All-American athlete, BIG EAST champion, and exceptional student. He also is known for being a strong leader and terrific person.
Joe came to Marquette from Downers Grove, Ill. He chose Marquette “because of its outstanding academics with its engineering program, graduation and post-grad job placement rates, and because I would have the opportunity to compete in Track and Field.”
Joe is one of the most decorated track and field student-athletes in Marquette history. He is in Marquette's all-time top-10 in five different individual events and holds the school records in the decathlon and heptathlon. He is a four-time All-BIG EAST selection in indoor and outdoor competitions and the 2019 BIG EAST Conference decathlon champion and 2022 heptathlon champion, setting a new BIG EAST record. His academic success has led him to be a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic selection and a two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree. He was also the 2020-21 BIG EAST Institutional Male Scholar-Athlete Award winner.
“Our list of McCahill award winners is filled with incredible young men and women who excelled in so many ways during their time at Marquette,” says Marquette Vice President and Director of Athletics Bill Scholl. "Without question, Joe upholds that long-standing tradition. Whether it's on the track, in the classroom, or in the community, Joe has been a leader since he stepped on our campus. In every way, Joe personifies the best of intercollegiate athletics. It's been a privilege to watch his development at Marquette, and it will be equally exciting to watch his post-Marquette future unfold.”
Joe qualified for the 2020 NCAA Indoor Championships and has been named a two-time USTFCCCA All-American in indoor and outdoor competition. He is currently working towards his MBA. Following graduation, he plans to pursue a project management route in the construction industry.
Fun Facts:
Name someone (past or present) with whom you'd like to have dinner.
I would like to have dinner with Theodore Roosevelt.
Name a Marquette faculty or staff member who had an impact on you, and how.
Dr. Voglewede. His love for teaching and student success always had a great impact on me. He was also my academic advisor and gave me great advice throughout my undergrad career and helped me make the decision to stay a 5th year at Marquette.
Leave a congratulatory message for Joe!