The Manitoba Bisons football team has been awarded with one of the five CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport) football player awards for the 2009 season.

Bison second year linebacker Thomas Hall was the recipient of the 2009 CIS Football Russ Jackson Award. Hall is the first Manitoba Bisons football player to receive the prestigious Russ Jackson Award since its inception in 1986. The Russ Jackson Award is presented to the CIS football player who best exemplifies the attributes of academic achievement, football skill and citizenship. It is named in honour of CFL Hall of Famer/Ottawa Rough Rider and McMaster University Quarterback, Russ Jackson.

Hall, 19, has had an amazing couple of seasons at Manitoba on and off the field. His nomination is highlighted by numerous endeavours that Hall has performed in the academic, community and athletic fields. The Winnipeg native is in his third year in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management and earned his first CIS Academic All-Canadian status in his first year of eligibility with a GPA of 4.00.

Hall was instrumental in creating a new annual event called “The Challenge for Life” for CancerCare Manitoba that has increased awareness for all cancers while raising over $2 million to date after only two years. He served as the honourary chair during the inaugural Cancer Care Manitoba's Challenge for Life Campaign. Hall also speaks to classrooms about the new event to spread the message of its importance in the community.

As a Manitoba Bisons student-athlete, Hall has been involved over the last two seasons with “Bisons Against Bullying” and this season is the co-chair of the  program. This program is designed to have Bison athletes attend elementary schools throughout Winnipeg to present to children and speak about bullying and preventative solutions to this problem. He has coordinated recruitment and training sessions and has grown the program to have over 60 Bison student-athletes involved, with a goal to present to a record number of schools this season.

Hall was recognized as the 2008-09 Male Student-Athlete Leadership and Community Development Award winner for Bison Sports in only his first year of being a Bison. In the fall of 2009, he was the first recipient of the Nick Laping Memorial award, which symbolizes the spirit of former Bison Nick Laping and his commitment to the community while being a true leader on and off the field.

Hall commented about receiving this National Award recognition, “I think the Russ Jackson Award represents the true goal of a CIS student-athlete. The award stresses student first and then athletics and I believe it is incredibly important to give back to the community while being at university. It is a humbling experience to be awarded this honour and I am truly proud to represent this award and be a Manitoba Bison.”

Hall has also been the football representative on the University of Manitoba Athletes (UMAC) council over the last two seasons. Hall has volunteered his time at the Siloam Mission, which is a food shelter for the city's homeless and disadvantaged people, over the past two seasons during the holiday season. He volunteered with a pilot program called “Reading and Running” in the spring of 2009, in which he and other Bisons worked with underprivileged elementary aged students in regards to literary skills and promoting an active lifestyle.

Hall continues his amazing volunteer efforts both at the University of Manitoba and at his alma mater St. Paul's High School. Over the past three years, he has raised money for the high school bursary fund, plus he tutors chemistry, calculus and physics to senior high school students.

On the football field, Hall shone in his first full season as a starter at the linebacker position. He led the team and tied for 13th in the Canada West conference with 38.5 total tackles (32 solo) during the 2009 season. Hall also had 3.5 tackles for losses plus had one interception for a 59 yard TD return, one fumble recovery and tied for third most in Canada West with two forced fumbles while playing and starting all eight conference games in 2009. The 6'3, 223 lbs. linebacker played multiple positions at linebacker and he was selected as Canada West Defence Football Athlete of the Week for the week ending November 1.

Bison Football Head Coach Brian Dobie enthused, “This is one of the most prestigious awards in CIS Football, and we're proud of Thomas as the first Manitoba Bison to be selected for the Russ Jackson Award. This award could not go to a more perfect candidate, who epitomizes dedication and commitment on and off the field. Thomas is a young man who has tirelessly given to this program but more importantly to the community, and represents the best that the University of Manitoba has to offer. I am extremely proud of Thomas for earning this recognition.”

Acadia offensive lineman and kinesiology student Greg Knight of Halifax, McGill inside receiver and physical education student Charles-Antoine Sinotte of Trois-Rivières, Que., and Queen's linebacker and life sciences student T.J. Leeper of London, Ont., were also nominated for the Jackson award.