UMAC recognizes 2016-17 Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award finalists
ST. PAUL, Minn.--- Each spring, the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) recognizes outstanding senior student-athletes who demonstrate a healthy balance by achieving excellence in academics, leadership, and service while participating in intercollegiate athletics, through the UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award.
This year, the UMAC has named nine female and nine male finalists who will be eligible to receive the UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award, the conference office announced Wednesday.
The UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award is presented to student-athletes who embody what it means to be an NCAA Division III student-athlete. Through this award, the UMAC recognizes the role athletics plays in developing leaders by rewarding athletes' excellence in the classroom as well as service to the community.
The NCAA Division III student-athlete is unique among intercollegiate athletes because, at Division III institutions, student-athletes receive no financial aid for athletics participation. Such institutions emphasize the overall quality of the educational experience and the successful completion of the student's academic program; athletic participation is an important part of that educational experience. Division III provides opportunities for student-athletes to be a part of numerous campus activities in addition to athletics, and these finalists have maximized those opportunities.
Finalists are nominated by each institution and the winners are selected by the UMAC Council of Faculty Athletics Representatives. Winners of the Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award – which will be given to one male and one female – will be announced Wednesday, April 12. Recipients will be honored on her and his individual campuses and presented with a personalized plaque.
2017 UMAC Female Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award Finalists
| Bailee Bartunek |
University of Wisconsin-Superior |
Audobon, Minn./Lake Park-Audobon |
Basketball |
| Katie Hinkle |
Crown College |
Dows, Iowa/Clarion-Goldfield |
Basketball, Volleyball |
| Emily Jansen |
College of St. Scholastica |
Long Prairie, Minn./Long Prairie-Grey Eagle |
Volleyball |
| Torri Jordan |
University of Minnesota Morris |
Fort Atkinson, Wis./Fort Atkinson |
Soccer |
| Karen Moe |
University of Northwestern |
Fargo, N.D./Fargo South |
Tennis |
| Emily Neeb |
Martin Luther College |
Gilbert, Ariz./Arizona Lutheran Academy |
Volleyball |
| Elissa Pheneger |
North Central University |
Roseville, Minn./Concordia Academy |
Volleyball |
| Megan Sauer |
Bethany Lutheran College |
Lismore, Minn./Adrian |
Cross Country, Track and Field |
| Madeleine Wieland |
Northland College |
Buffalo Grove, Ill./Buffalo Grove |
Soccer |
2017 UMAC Male Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award Finalists
| John Hasemen |
University of Minnesota Morris |
Brandon, Minn./Brandon-Evansville |
Basketball |
| Matt Hoszko |
Northland College |
Fonthill, Ontario/Streetsville Secondary |
Lacrosse, Soccer |
| Noah Larson |
Bethany Lutheran College |
Appleton, Wis./Kimberly |
Track and Field |
| Jackson Lindquist |
University of Wisconsin-Superior |
Carlton, Minn./Esko |
Cross Country, Track and Field |
| Lukas Majerle |
North Central University |
Little Falls, Minn./Little Falls |
Soccer |
| Aaron Markgraf |
Martin Luther College |
Cinncinati, Ohio/Winnebago Lutheran Academy |
Soccer |
| Joshua Trosen |
College of St. Scholastica |
Hackensack, Minn./Nevis |
Cross Country, Track and Field |
| Travis Walker |
Crown College |
Canyon Lake, Texas/Canyon Lake |
Baseball |
| Aaron Youngberg |
University of Northwestern |
Pocahontas, Iowa/Pocahontas Area |
Basketball |