SALEM, Va. --- The finalists for the
prestigious Jostens Trophy were announced today by members of the
Rotary Club of Salem, Va. The club is responsible for the initial
review of annual nominations and narrowed the pool to 10 men's and
10 women's finalists.
The Jostens Trophy is awarded to an outstanding NCAA
Division III men’s and women’s basketball player who
excels on the floor, in the classroom and in the
community.
The Salem Rotary Club Jostens Trophy Committee employs a
numerical rating to narrow the list of finalists so that the
decision can be made on the most objective basis
possible.
Last year, Katelyn Fischer of Marymount University and
Hobart College's Richie Bonney took home the
trophies.
Listed below are the finalists for the 2015 Jostens
Trophy:
| Men's finalists | Women's finalists |
| George Bugarinovic, Johns Hopkins University | Rachel Carter, Salem State |
| Chris Cook, Hood College | Liz Coyne, Rosemont College |
| Nicholas LaGuerre, St. Mary's College of Maryland | Melissa Gilkey, Washington University in St. Louis |
| Gordon Lyons, SUNY Geneseo | Sally Linzmeier, UW-Superior |
| Dane McLoughlin, Case Western Reserve University | Hannah McGinnis, Illinois College |
| Dylan Overstreet, Illinois Wesleyan University | Sarah Parsons, Randolph-Macon College |
| Travis Schomaeker, Defiance College | Briana Rae, Blackburn College |
| Brayden Teuscher, Wheaton College (IL) | Jess Rheinheimer, Eastern Mennonite University |
| Clayton Whitlock, MacMurray College | Chanlir Segarra, Berry College |
| John Wickey, Babson College | Kelsey Shoemake, Eureka College |
Voters’ ballots are due by March 12 with the winning
schools expected to be notified by March 13. The awards
presentation is scheduled for Thursday, March 19 at the Salem Civic
Center in conjunction with the NCAA Division III men's basketball
semifinals and championship in Salem, Va., on March 20-21.
The Jostens Trophy is a national award created by the Rotary Club
of Salem, Va., to honor the most outstanding men's and women's NCAA
Division III basketball players of the year. The award takes into
account three vital parts: basketball ability, academic prowess and
community service. The trophy models the Rotary International motto
of "Service Above Self" by recognizing those who truly fit the
ideal of the well-rounded NCAA Division III student-athlete. This
year's class marks the 18th year the award has been
presented.
Additional information on the award can be found
at http://www.odaconline.com/jostens