One of the most cherished possessions belonging to Pat Milkovich is the Big Ten Medal of Honor, an award given to the athlete at Michigan State University who exemplifies outstanding achievement both in athletics and academics.

In 1971, he was a walk-on at Michigan State; but in one short year, he gave notice of things to come. Milkovich became one of only nine wrestlers in NCAA history to ever place first or second in four championships.

His first title in 1972 provided the distinction of being the youngest wrestling champion in NCAA history, at the age of 18 years, 3 months. He won the title again in 1974.

In 1978, he was selected to the U.S.A. wrestling team to compete in Russia. That same year, he became an instructor at Michigan State University and an assistant wrestling coach, a position he held until 1986.

In 1988, he took over the head wrestling coaching position at Rochester Adams High School in Michigan. In the period from 1997 through 1999, his team won a state championship, was runner-up and placed third. He was voted Coach of the Year in 1998.

In 1993, he received a Governor's Discretionary Fund Grant which he used to train faculty, staff and administrators in a program he had developed entitled "Winner's Circle". He also developed the concept of L.E.A.D.E.R.S (Leadership and Role Modeling) programs.

In recognition of his efforts to continue to combine a remarkable athletic career along with exemplary academic achievement, Patrick Gerald Milkovich is honored as a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.