There is hereby established a “Missouri Award of Recognition” which may be presented to any student athlete who is attending any elementary school, high school, university or college located in Missouri, or to any team of athletes as a whole whose members meet the requirements of this section. Such award may be presented to the eligible student athlete or athletes by the governor, any member of the general assembly, or the general assembly, the house of representatives or the senate, as a whole. In order to be eligible for the award, the student athlete or athletes shall be sponsored by the governor, or by one or more members of the general assembly, who shall state that such student athlete or athletes have accomplished an outstanding achievement in their athletic field. A resolution or recognition ceremony relating to such athletic achievement shall be deemed the equivalent of this award.