Jostens Trophy Winners Archive

1998 Jostens Trophy Winners

Michael Nogelo - Williams (MA) College
The all-time leading scorer in the history of Williams College men's basketball, Nogelo was the first ever recipient of the Jostens Trophy. As a senior, Nogelo averaged more than 21 points and seven rebounds a game. He led his team to a berth in the Division III national championship round. A double-major in English and Psychology, Nogelo was a part of the Williams College Big Sib program, mentoring Scott Beattie every Sunday. He also participated in the "Run for a Cure" cancer race, and also held a 3.13 grade point average.

Alicia Moore - Emory (GA) University

Moore, a member of the women's basketball team at Emory University, was awarded the first ever women's Josten Trophy. Moore finished her illustrious basketball career as Emory's all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots, and free throws. Off the court, Moore was one of just 15 students at Emory (out of 1,586) to receive the Woddruff Scholarship. She also worked in the neonatal unit at Egleston Children's Hospital and with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In the classroom, the Biology/Pre-Med major held down a 3.58 GPA.

1998 Finalists


1999 Jostens Trophy Winners

Kristen Venne, Susquehanna (PA) University
Venne, a two-time All-American selection, finished her collegiate career as the second all-time leading scorer and third all-time leading rebounder in school history. She accumulated 1,929 college points and 894 rebounds. As a senior she averaged 21.4 points and 9.4 rebounds. In the community, Venne is active in the Shamrock Program to help less fortunate children and volunteers her time at the Selinsgrove Center for Senior Citizens and Agapeland Pre-School. She graduated from SU with a degree in Psychology and a 3.70 GPA.

Michael Schantz, Hamilton (NY) College
Perhaps the best men's basketball player to ever play at Hamilton, Schantz finished his career with over 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. In his final season at the school, he averaged 25.9 points and 12.6 rebounds per game. He was the school's Male Athlete of the Year for three consecutive seasons. An economics major with a 3.0 GPA, Schantz was a volunteer a the National Basketball Coaches Association Dream to Read program and was also a speaker at New Hartford Middle School's Health Day.

1999 Finalists


2000 Jostens Trophy Winners

Alia Fischer, Washington (MO) University 
Fischer, a senior and native of Rochester, MN, was named the WBCA National Player of the Year as both a sophomore and junior and is in contention for the award again this season. She currently averages 16.6 points per game for the Bears, as well as 6.7 rebounds. She is shooting 57.8 percent from the field this season and for her career has the same mark from the floor. For the third time in her career, Fischer was named the University Athletic Association (UAA) Player of the Year and holds the Washington University records for most points (1,908), rebounds (899), and blocked shots (210) in a career. During her sophomore season, Fischer averaged a career-best 20.9 points per game as well as a personal-high 9.6 rebounds each time out.

Korey Coon, Illinois Wesleyan University 
A co-winner of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) "Most Outstanding Player" award this season, Coon completed the season averaging 22.0 points per game. He finished his career at IWU with three school records. He shot 91.3 percent from the free throw line in his four-year stay in Bloomington, IL and set an NCAA Division III record by making 70 consecutive free throws. During his career he also made 245 three-pointers, the most by any IWU player in history. This season he shot an amazing 96.3 percent from the charity stripe, setting another school mark.  No stranger to Salem, Coon was an important part of the 1997 Illinois Wesleyan club that won the national championship in the Salem Civic Center.

2000 Finalists


2001 Jostens Trophy Winners

Alison Grubbs - Lake Forest (IL) College 
Grubbs was named a preseason All-American and is the leading scorer in the Midwest Conference and one of the top 10 scorers in the nation.  Alison has averaged 21.9 points per game this season as well as shooting 44.7% from the field, 38.9% from behind the arc and 82.8% from the charity stripe.  She has been a three time All-American and a three-time Midwest Conference First Team selection, twice being honored as Player of the Year (1998 and 2000). With a double major in Biology and Secondary Education, she has maintained a 3.7 grade point average.  Alison has been an active volunteer for the Soup Kitchen, a major volunteer service commitment for Lake Forest students, and for Misericordia, a major volunteer service commitment for Lake Forest student-athletes.

David Jannuzzi - Wilkes (PA) University 
After returning from a season-ending foot injury just four games into the 1999-00 campaign, Wilkes' David Jannuzzi has not missed a beat in leading his team in scoring with 22.0 points per game.  He shoots 86.2% from the free throw line and 53.0% from the field.  He leads the entire Middle Atlantic Conference in assist-to-turnover ratio.  David was named an All-American during his junior year and was also named to the Final Four All-Tournament team in Salem three years ago.  David graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wilkes in 2000 with a 3.64 grade point average as a double major in Psychology and Elementary Education.  After completing his undergraduate work, David has gone on to pursue a Master's degree in Educational Development and Strategies, in which program he maintains a 3.83 average.  David has been on the Dean's List seven of his eight undergraduate semesters, the Middle Atlantic Conference Academic Honor Roll three years and has been selected to the Executive Directors All-Athletic team.

2001 Finalists


2002 Jostens Trophy Winners

Heather Kile - Swarthmore College
A senior and native of Marlton, N.J., Heather Kile is the all-time Centennial Conference leader in scoring with 1,965 career points and ranks second in the conference career rebounding category with 1,263 boards in her four-year career. Heather averaged 18.6 points per game and shot an impressive 50.5% from the field in 2001-02.  She also recorded 310 rebounds, 88 assists and 70 steals from her forward/center position. She completed her career as Swarthmore's all-time career leader in scoring and rebounding and is the only Centennial Conference player to be named an all-conference first teamer all four years of her career.  

Adam Jones - Buena Vista 
Jones led the Beavers to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2002 and averaged 19.3 points per game. He was named the Iowa Conference's Player of the Week three times in a row and was recognized as the D3hoops.com National Player of the Week on January 6, 2002. He was named the Iowa Conference Player of the Year in 2001-02, matching the honor he received as a sophomore. He finished the season leading the conference in three-point field goal percentage shooting 43.2 percent from behind the arc and knocking in 80 treys on the season. He shot an impressive 84.5 percent from the free throw line while recording 60 assists and 27 steals from his guard position. 

2002 Finalists


2003 Jostens Trophy Winners

Whitney Bull - Wilkes University 
The 5-11 center completed her college undergraduate education at the Wilkes Barre, Pa., institution in 3 ½ years while also excelling on the basketball court. She completed the 2002-03 season ranked third in the NCAA Division III rebounding category with 13.5 board per game and averaged an impressive 16.5 points per contest. She surpassed the 1,000 point and 900-rebound career marks and posted a conference leading 19 double-doubles in 24 games. In addition to her basketball prowess, Bull also is an exceptional tennis player holding the number-one position on the Wilkes squad and serving as the team captain.

Derek Reich - Chicago 
Reich was tabbed the University Athletic Association (UAA) Player of the Year for an unprecedented fourth year in a row, completed a senior season full of excitement, including averaging over 25.4 points per game and scoring the 2,000th point of his career. He shot an impressive 53 percent from the field, 44% from behind the arc and grabbed an average of 9.2 boards per game. A preseason Division III All-American, Reich was named the UAA Player of the Week seven times this season and made the roster of the d3hoops.com Team of the Week on three occasions. This year's men's recipient is Chicago's Derek Reich. Reich, who was recently tabbed the University Athletic Association (UAA) Player of the Year for an unprecedented fourth year in a row, completed a senior season full of excitement, including averaging over 25.4 points per game and scoring the 2,000th point of his career. He shot an impressive 53 percent from the field, 44% from behind the arc and grabbed an average of 9.2 boards per game. A preseason Division III All-American, Reich was named the UAA Player of the Week seven times this season and made the roster of the d3hoops.com Team of the Week on three occasions.

2003 Finalists


2004 Jostens Trophy Winners

Kay Mikolajczak - U. Wisconsin-Oshkosh
This year's women's recipient is UW-Oshkosh's Kay Mikolajczak. Mikolajczak, who was tabbed a preseason all-America by D3hoops.com, completed the season with a league-leading, 55.8% field goal accuracy and 7.42 defensive rebounds per game. Her stellar hoop accomplishments continued with an impressive 17.1ppg average, 9.1 boards per game and 1.25 blocks a contest. For her four-year career, Mikolajczak averaged 13.2ppg and shot over 55 percent from the field. A two-time Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Player of the Week in 2003-04, Mikolajczak was named a second team member of the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-America College Division Women's Basketball Team, marking the first time a player from UW-Oshkosh had been so honored. A native of Franklin, Wis., Mikolajczak graduated with a degree in Biology and minor in Pre-Physical Therapy. She maintained an astonishing 3.928 GPA and has been a member of the WIAC's Scholastic Honor Roll for all four years. She held the UW-Oshkosh Governor's Scholarship for being her high school's valedictorian and was a member of the UW-Oshkosh Dean's List every semester. She also held the Chancellor's and Brady Corporation Scholarships. Kay volunteered numerous hours with the local Special Olympics, Senior Day Care and served an active role with ADVOCAP and local youth camps and clinics. She was the university's Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) President and was active with the campus Gender Equity Committee serving its female student-athlete representative.

Justin Call - Emory & Henry College
A senior at Emory & Henry College, Call is a native of Ronda, N.C. A Sporting News preseason all-America, Call earned numerous conference accolades during his senior season including the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Conference Player of the Year awards. The 6-3 guard completed the season with a 24.8 point per game average which ranked him fifth nationally. Besides leading the conference in scoring, Call was also tops in three-pointers made (76) and ranked third in the league FT category at 87.2 percent. He became the eighth individual in school history to score 1,500 career points and only the third to reach the milestone in three seasons. In three years at E&H, Call assaulted the conference record book scoring in double figures 76 of his 80 games played, ranking sixth all-time in E&H scoring with 1,732 career points (21.7 avg.). His presence in the classroom is equally as impressive.  As a double major in business and economics, Justin maintained a 3.744 grade point average. He was a member of Sigma Mu National Honor Society and was recognized on three occasions as a member of the ODAC's All-Academic team. Also minoring in Psychology, Call was a 2002-03 third team CoSIDA Academic All-America, including first team all-district honors.  In addition, he was named to the 2003-04 first team CoSIDA Academic All-America team. In terms of community, Justin had a history of service to children including serving as a Bible School teacher and Recreation Director at his local church. He served as a motivational speaker for a local youth basketball camp and helped plan and organize a benefit basketball tournament for a double lung transplant patient. He has served as an active leader with a Summer Program for Exceptional Children (SPEC) sponsored by the Wilkes County (NC) United Way.  

2004 Finalists


2005 Jostens Trophy Winners

Tara Rohde - Trinity University (Tx.)
Rohde, a senior from Norman , Oklahoma , is a 6-2 center on the Tiger women's basketball squad averaging 16.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per contest this season. She helped her team to an NCAA bid and sectional appearance, including the Tigers' second conference title in three years. She started the season on the right foot being named a preseason D3hoops.com all-American. She was twice named the SCAC Player of the Week and scored her 1,000th career point. The political science and economics major is a force in the classroom posting an impressive 3.87 GPA at the San Antonio , Tx., University. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Blue Key National Honor Society and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She was named a third team Verizon CoSIDA third team all-district all-American in 2003-04. She is active in the community serving as co-captain of the university mentoring program, member of the student orientation steering committee and co-founder and columnist for the on-campus newsletter The Conscience. Her service did not stop at on-campus locations. Tara was recently selected as a delegate for the Student Conference on United States Affairs. As a delegate she attended a conference at West Point and participated in roundtable discussions on the challenges of terrorism. Trinity Director of Athletics Bob King offers this on Tara . "As AD at Trinity, I have not witnessed a more accomplished and well-rounded student-athlete in 12 years. In the area of academics, athletics and community/campus involvement, Tara not only participated but made a difference to many peoiple in all of these categories."

Jon-David Byers - Lebanon Valley
Byers, a senior from Westminster , Md. , averaged 22.7 points per game and 4 assists on the season. A Bob Cousy Collegiate Point Guard of the Year candidate, Byers was a preseason first team all-America selection on D3Hoops.com and an honorable mention selection in Street & Smith's. He completed the season tops in the Commonwealth Conference, garnering the Player of the Year award for a second consecutive season. Outside of the court and classroom, Byers is a leader as well. He is a member of the Lebanon Valley Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), a team captain for Relay for Life, a team coordinator in the Kids of Night program run by the basketball team and is a student coordinator in the Dream to Read Program. In addition to his contribution to the Flying Dutchmen hoops squad, Byers has participated on the golf squad as well earning several athletic/academic awards along the way. A business administration/accounting major with a 3.85 grade-point average, Byers was named as the ESPN The Magazine College Division Men's Basketball Academic All-America of the Year this season, becoming Lebanon Valley 's first-ever academic all-America of the year. A third team academic all-America in both basketball and golf last season, he was named first team academic all-America this season.He was a third team Academic All-American in 2003-04 and member of the Middle Atlantic Corporation's Winter All-Academic Honor Roll in 2002-03 and 2003-04. Lebanon Valley President Stephen MacDonald sums it up best. "J.D. Byers has done everything at this College that one could possibly expect of a young man with his gifts and ambitions... I cannot imagine a more worthy candidate for the Jostens Trophy."

2005 Finalists


2006 Jostens Trophy Winners

Megan Silva - Randolph-Macon College
Silva is a 5-foot-6, senior guard from Glen Allen, Va., who currently leads the nation in scoring, averaging 23 points each time out on the floor. In 2005-06, she has led the Yellow Jackets (27-2) to their third Old Dominion Athletic Conference title in four years and currently has RMC on a 21-game winning streak heading into NCAA Sectional play this weekend.  For her career, Silva has amassed ODAC records for career points (2,324), assists (692) and steals (442).  She became the first women's player to receive ODAC Player-of-the-Year honors on three different occasions, is a four-time ODAC First-Team member and a two-time All-American.  In the classroom, Silva has earned a 3.69 grade-point average while majoring in Business/Economics at RMC.  A member of the Dean's List and Randolph-Macon honors program, Silva is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and serves as the school newspaper's business and advertising manager.    Silva gives back to the community by running basketball clinics and giving individual instruction for underprivileged children during the summers as well as volunteering at a local church's nursery.

Chris Braier - Lawrence University
Braier, a 6-foot-4, senior forward from Wauwatosa, Wisc., leads his team in scoring at 15.6 points-per-game as well as pulling down a team-best 12.4 rebounds each time out this season.  He has helped lead the Vikings to a perfect 25-0 overall record, a Midwest Conference title and a spot in this weekend's NCAA Tournament Sectional-Round.  Earlier this season, Braier became the first player in the 85-year history of the Midwest Conference to score 1,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds in a career.  A three-time Midwest All-Academic selection, Braier posts a 3.56 grade-point-average while majoring in Biology at Lawrence.  He is a member of the Mortar Board and Lawrence's Senior Honor Society.  Away from the Lawrence campus, Braier works as a peer tutor at an elementary school and volunteers at  a local Lawrence Catholic Church and retirement home. He is also actively involved in coaching  various youth basketball teams.

2006 Finalists


2007 Jostens Trophy Winners

Lisa Winkle, Calvin College
A native of Grand Rapids and a graduate of Grand Rapids South Christian High School, Winkle was a stalwart for the Calvin women's basketball team, averaging 14.7 points and 8.8 rebounds a game over the course of her career. In addition, Winkle notched double-digits in scoring in 100 of a possible 114 games in her Calvin career and posted 46 double-double efforts including 16 double-doubles in 2006-07. A four-time first team All-MIAA selection, Winkle was named the MIAA's MVP for the second-straight year in 2007. Winkle is the only four-time first team all-conference selection in MIAA women's basketball history.In the classroom, Winkle posted a 3.966 grade point average while majoring in mathematics and secondary education. She has been a three-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection and was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America second team last year and to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first this year. She has already accepted a position as a math teacher at South Christian High School for next fall. Winkle has also been heavily involved in community service work while at Calvin. As a Calvin student, she has served as a volunteer tutor in both the Wyoming Godfrey Lee and Grand Rapids Public School systems. She has also served as a volunteer boys basketball coach on Saturday mornings in the Ada Christian Elementary School Pure Play program and served as a Sunday school teacher at Hillside Community Church.

Ryan Cain, WPI
WPI's Cain, a native of Webster, Mass., played a pivotal role in transforming WPI's men's basketball team into a regional and national powerhouse. Over his four-year career, the team had an impressive 89-20 record, won four straight NEWMAC (New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference) regular season championships and two NEWMAC tournament titles, and appeared in the three NCAA Division III championships. Cain, who was named NEWMAC Player of the Year in 2006-07, became WPI's all-time leading scorer during the regular season finale on Feb. 17, surpassing the 1,757-point mark set by Orville Bailey '85. Averaging nearly 20 points per game while shooting over 50 percent from the field (despite facing constant double teams and special defenses), he finished his WPI career with 1,813 points. He earned NEWMAC Rookie of the Year accolades as a freshman, was chosen NEWMAC Player of the Year as a sophomore, and was named an All-New England by D3Hoops.com and the ECAC as a junior. Off the court, Cain, a civil and environmental engineering major, excelled in the classroom and made an impressive mark in the community. For his required science, technology and society project, he completed a study of green engineering in the automotive industry. For his major project, he worked with a team of students to design affordable manufactured single-family homes for low-income families. The homes can also be used to provide ready, low-cost housing for families displaced by natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina. Cain has been active in a number of community service activities, most notably the Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization of Central Massachusetts. The men's team became involved in the program in Cain's freshman year.

2007 Finalists


2008 Jostens Trophy Winners

Tarra Richardson, McMurry (Texas)
Richardson finished her extraordinary career with 2,194 points, 1,015 rebounds, 304 blocked shots, and 206 steals. This year she averaged 18.9 points and 8.4 rebounds a game.  She is currently the McMurry all-time leader in the former three categories and the American Southwest Conference (ASC) all-time leader in career points and career rebounds.  A three-time ASC all-division all-conference selection, Richardson was named to the All-ASC West Division First Team and the ASC All-Defensive team this season.

In the classroom, Richardson carries a 3.91 grade point average while majoring in finance. She has been a three-time Academic All-Conference selection and a three-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District selection while being named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America second team last year.  In addition, she has been named to the Dean's list for nine semesters and is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.

Richardson has been heavily involved in community service work while at McMurry. She has served as a volunteer referee to the White Settlement (Tex.) Youth Association and was a teacher's aide at H.V. Helbing Elementary.  She has also served her time with the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church nursery, the Blue Haze Elementary Carnival and the Children's Miracle Network.

Troy Ruths, Washington-St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis' Ruths has played a pivotal role during his career for the Bears. The team had an impressive 83-28 record during his four years, winning the University Athletic Association (UAA) championship, placing third in the NCAA Tournament in 2007, and winning the 2008 NCAA Division III national title.  Ruths ranks second on the Washington University all-time scoring board with 1,801 points.  Ruths helped lead the Bears to a 25-6 record in 2008 in which he is averaging a UAA-best 20.5 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Ruths has been named to the UAA All-Conference teams three times and was named the UAA Most Valuable Player as well a Third Team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) in 2007.  This season, he was named the D3hoops.com Player of the Year.

In addition to Ruth's successes on the court, the computer science major boasts a 4.0 grade point average in the classroom.  He is a two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America of the Year selection as well as a three-time Academic All-District and Academic All-UAA selection.  Additionally, Ruths was named to the USA Today All-USA College Academic Team in 2007 and a two-time Academic All-American.  He also has devoted time to research in the School of Engineering at both Washington University and Rice University and had the opportunity to co-author an academic article in the Journal of Chemical Education.

Ruths has taken on several extra-curricular activities.  He is a member of the Computer Science Student Advisory Board and the Student-Athletic Advisory Committee.  He developed a math program for young children and he is the co-founder of two companies, Tryphon Arts and NonoKids.

2008 Finalists


2009 Jostens Trophy Winners

Melanie Auguste, Colorado College
Colorado College senior, Auguste completed one of the most outstanding careers in Tiger basketball history in 2009.  She is the all-time program leader with 607 assists and 243 steals. She also ranks third with 1,572 points and 100 three-point baskets, and is fourth with 815 rebounds.  She completed this season averaging 20 points, which is good enough for first in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC), and nearly nine rebounds per game.  She also sits atop the SCAC rankings with 7.0 assists per game and second in steals with 2.3 per outing. Auguste has been named a member of the SCAC All-Conference team for two consecutive years, while garnering Player of the Year accolades this season.  She was tabbed as the SCAC Player of the Week three times after scoring in double figures in 23 of her 24 games and tallying 11 double-doubles and two triple-doubles this season.

In addition to Auguste's successes on the court, the economics major boasts a 3.74 grade point average in the classroom.  She has just as many academic awards to her name as she does athletic honors.  In 2007, she was the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Scholarship Award and the David Preston Award for the top sophomore in the economics and business departments while being named to the Dean's List.  In 2008, she was nominated for a Rhoades Scholarship and a member of the National Scholars Honor Society.  She was most recently has been named to the 2009 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Second Team.

Auguste has taken on an important role in her community while at Colorado College.  Over the years she has participated in Habitat for Humanity and Relay for Life.  She has also spent time working with underserved elementary school kids, where she encourages them to participate in athletics while excelling in academics.  She does all this in the community while taking time to be a tutor and technical assistant in the economics department.

Jimmy Bartolotta, MIT
Bartolotta has been a dominant force on the Engineers' basketball team for the past four years, where he averaged more than 22 points and six rebounds per game throughout his career.  Bartolotta finished his extraordinary career with 2,278 points, 688 rebounds, 331 assists, 184 steals and 100 blocked shots. This year he averaged 27.6 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per outing.  He is the first 2,000-point scorer in MIT history, while currently ranking third in the nation in scoring this season.

A recipient of many athletic awards over the years, Bartolotta has been selected as a first-team member of the NEWMAC All-Conference team three times, including being named the 2008-09 Player of the Year.  He was also tabbed as a 2009 D3hoops.com and Sporting News Preseason All-American.

In the classroom, Bartolotta carries a 4.6 out of 5.0 grade point average while double majoring in management science and physics.  He has extensive experience as a research analyst and consultant for the MIT Sloan School of Management and has twice been named a CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American and selected four times to the NEWMAC Academic All-Conference team.

Bartolotta has also been heavily involved in community service work while at MIT. He has volunteered at Cambridge Community Charter School where he mentors middle school children, has taught classes at a Summer Enrichment Program and organized and coached a T-Ball team in his community.

2009 Finalists


2010 Jostens Trophy Winners

Julia Hirssig, Wisconsin-Stout
A three-year starter, Hirssig owns the school scoring record with 1,738 points. She has started 79 consecutive games and has played in all 108 games since her freshman year. A pre-season All-America pick, Hirssig led the league in scoring and rebounding this year. She dropped in 21.4 points and grabbed 10.6 rebounds per outing. Hirssig also ranked first in NCAA Division III with a .682 (217-318) field goal percentage.  Over her four years, Hirssig has collected several athletic awards. She is a two-time First Team All-WIAC member and was named the 2010 All-WIAC Player of the Year. Additionally, Hirssig was tabbed the WIAC Player of the Week two times this season. She collected 14 double doubles, scored in double digits in 26 of 27 games, scored more than 20 points in 20 games and more than 30 points in three games.

In addition to her athletic accomplishments, the Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Management major boosts a 3.959 grade point average in the classroom and has just as many academic honors. Hirssig is a two-time First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® pick as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Additionally, she has earned the Chancellor's Award for Academic Excellence seven times.

Hirssig is also a prominent figure within the community. She volunteers at two different elementary schools and at the Salvation Army. On campus, Hirssig serves as a student housing resident assistant and as a Quantity Foods Production lab assistant. She also works with the Blue Devil Buddies program and is a UW-Stout Career services volunteer.

Blake Schultz, Williams
Schultz was a dominant force on the Eph's basketball team during his four years. He ranks in the top ten in scoring and rebounding at Williams. This season, the senior forward led the NESCAC in scoring with 19.2 points per game and dished.  A recipient of many athletic accolades over the years, Schultz has been tabbed to the All-NESCAC First Team for two-straight seasons, including being tabbed the 2009-10 NESCAC Player of the year.

In the classroom, Schultz is an Economics/Pre-Med major and sports a 3.29 grade point average. He is a candidate for medical school, but was recently accepted into the Teach for America Program where he will pursue that avenue and delay medical school for two years.

Schultz is the first two-time winner of the Sinc Hart Award for a Williams men's basketball player, who has been a valued good-will ambassador for his sport, College, and community through community service commitments. For three years, he has served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee at Williams and has participated in the nationwide Best-Buddies program mentoring mentally challenged youths.

Additionally, Schultz has coordinated Eph team relationships with the local A Better Chance (ABC) program and nearby Berkshire Farm Center (juvenile delinquents in a New York State residence facility), enabling the participants to visit practices and meet and correspond with players. Furthermore, he coordinated free summer basketball camp opportunities for ABC students. Also, he has served as the basketball team's Toys for Tots representative and was the co-organizer for the Williams Basketball Care for Cancer Fundraiser, raising over $12,000.

2010 Finalists


2011 Jostens Trophy Winners

Elizabeth Sunderhaus, Cedar Crest
Sunderhaus wrapped up an impressive season at Cedar Crest.  A junior center from Hamilton, Ohio, Sunderhaus scored her 1,000th point this year and is just 12 rebounds shy of reaching the 1,000 mark in that category, which will make her just the second player in school history to achieve 1,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.  She tied atop the nation’s rebounding charts at 15.6 boards per game, and she led the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) in scoring at 19.7 points per game.  Sunderhaus also tied for second in her conference in double-doubles with 21 in 24 games. She is a former CSAC Women’s Basketball Rookie of the Year and Cedar Crest’s first three-time all-conference selection.   

In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Sunderhaus boasts a 3.9735 grade point average as a Genetic Engineering major with a concentration in Forensic Science and a minor in Chemistry. Sunderhaus is a member of Cedar Crest’s Honors program, for which she must complete additional multidisciplinary coursework beyond her normal course requirements.  She is a member of Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society and will be inducted this spring into the Chi Alpha Sigma National Scholar-Athlete Honor Society and the Delphi Honor Society for GPAs above 3.8.  She has been named to the Dean’s List and the CSAC All-Academic Team each semester of her career.  Sunderhaus has also been an ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team selection.    

Sunderhaus is also a prominent figure within the campus and community. She holds officer positions in several clubs and organizations around campus, including SAAC. In the community, she has worked with youth groups such as Head Start and the Boys and Girls Club, as well as an adult day care facility and a shelter for victims of domestic abuse. At home, she is also a parish volunteer at Queen of Peace church and a member of the Paragon Optimists Society, a service organization that holds breast cancer fund-raisers, sponsors middle school movie nights and conducts a middle school essay contest for which Sunderhaus is a judge.

Steve Djurickovic, Carthage
Senior guard Steve Djurickovic led the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) in scoring and assists each of his four seasons.  He paced the Red Men this year with 21.8 points per game and 6.6 assists per night.  For his career, he sits atop the Carthage career leaders in points (2,547) and assists (649). A recipient of many athletic accolades over the years, Djurickovic has been tabbed to the All-CCIW First Team each of his four seasons.  He also earned the CCIW “Fred Young Most Outstanding Player Award” in 2010 and 2011.  Also during his junior campaign, Djurickovic was named the D3hoops.com Player of the Year.

In the classroom, Djurickovic is an Exercise and Sport Science major with a minor in Business Administration and sports a 3.52 grade point average. He has been a member of both the Dean’s List and the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll at Carthage, and a 2011 Capital One Academic All-America First Team pick, as selected by CoSIDA.    

Additionally, Djurickovic has been a four-year volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club of Kenosha, one of the larger community service organizations in Southeastern Wisconsin.  He volunteers at the Pleasant Prairie RecPlex, the largest municipal recreational facility in the country.  Djurickovic has also been a member of the Carthage Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

2011 Finalists


2012 Jostens Trophy Winners

Taylor Simpson, University of Chicago
Simpson, a native of Lee’s Summit, Mo., has helped lead the Maroons to a flawless 27-0 record this season. She leads Chicago’s balanced scoring attack with 12.6 points per game as they head into the Sweet 16 this weekend.  A First Team All-University Athletic Association (UAA) pick, Simpson has started all 27 contests this season and is also the team’s leading rebounder with better than eight rebounds each time out. 

Simpson, a Third Team Capital Academic All-America pick, presented by CoSIDA, holds a 3.81 grade point average as a visual arts and pre-med major. Simpson founded the UChicago chapter of Global Brigades, a student-led global health and sustainable development organization, and prior to her sophomore year helped to procure $200,000 of medicine for medical clinics in Honduras. She spent the summer before her junior year teaching visual arts to children in Varanasi, India, and earlier this year was accepted into the Teach for America program.

Aris Wurtz, Ripon College
Wurtz, a native of Waupun, Wisc., has excelled both on the court and in the classroom all four years at Ripon.  He is a three-time First Team All-Midwest Conference and two-time Third Team All-Region player.  The senior forward ranks second in the Midwest Conference and eighth in Division III in scoring with 25 points per game.  He ranks fourth in the conference in three-point shooting (.430), fifth in shooting 83.3 percent from the charity stripe, seventh in rebounding (6.6 rpg) and 10th in field goal percentage (.509).  Wurtz finished his Red Hawk career ranking third in school history in both scoring (1,821) and rebounding (578), while ranking fifth in three-pointers (144). 

Wurtz, the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America Player of the Year, presented by CoSIDA, is a triple major in Economics, Business Management and Philosophy.  He has a 4.0 cumulative grade point average.  He has also volunteered in Congressman Tom Petri's office, helping out at community gatherings, and participated in the Foster Grandparent Program of Advocap Fond du Lac in Wisconsin.

2012 Finalists


2013 Jostens Trophy Winners

Carissa Verkaik, Calvin College
Verkaik is the second individual in Calvin women's basketball history to receive the award as Lisa Winkle was also so honored in 2007.  A native of Holland and a graduate of Holland Christian High School, Verkaik has been a leader on the basketball court, in the classroom and in the community.

As a basketball player, Verkaik was recently named the MIAA’s Most Valuable Player for the fourth straight year. She averaged 20.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.3 blocks a game.  She completed her career as Calvin’s all-time leader in points (2,236), rebounds (1,071) and blocked shots (440). She is now currently ranked third on the all-time NCAA III women’s basketball list in blocked shots and 14th in points.  [More on Verkaik]

Colton Hunt, Randolph College
Hunt becomes the second male from the Old Dominion Athletic Conference to win the Jostens Trophy, joining Emory & Henry College's Justin Call who earned the honor back in 2004. Hunt is the third overall ODAC player to win the Jostens, as Randolph-Macon College's Megan Silva received the honor in 2006.

Hunt finished his senior campaign averaging team-highs of 24.2 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. His scoring output is third in the country as of Monday, March 11, and he also ranks in the top 15 nationally in steals per game after leading the ODAC in both points and steals this season. For his efforts, Hunt garnered the ODAC Kurt Axe Memorial Player of the Year award. Hunt was named the D3hoops.com South Region Player of the Year on Monday afternoon, and also picked up D3hoops.com All-South Region First Team accolades.  [More on Hunt]

2013 Finalists


2014 Jostens Trophy Winners

Katelyn Fischer, Marymount University
Fischer, a native of Reisterstown, Md., helped guide the Saints to a 17-11 overall record and a trip to the Capital Athletic Conference Tournament, where they fell to 14th-ranked and top-seeded York, 73-65, in the semifinals. Fischer was recently named a First Team All-CAC member for the third straight year after dropping in 15.5 points per game, dishing out a conference-best 6.6 assists per outing, and grabbing 4.5 rebounds per night while shooting 83.2-percent from the foul line (second in the conference). For her career, Fischer set the CAC and MU records for three-pointers made (204) and set school records in career assists (575), three-point shooting percentage (40.1%) and free throw shooting percentage (82.5%). Additionally, she is third at Marymount in scoring (1,664) and sixth in steals (263).

Fischer’s accomplishments extend far beyond the court into the classroom and the community. In the classroom, Fischer sports a 3.97 grade point average as a Business major and has been a CAC All-Academic honoree the past three years. She was named a First Team Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-American for the second consecutive year in 2014.

In the community, Fischer has spearheaded several events such as MU’s annual “Sock it to Me” drive to make care packages for Arlington’s local homeless shelter. She also helped raise over $7,000.00 for St. Jude Children’s Hospital through a walk-a-thon. Fischer, who is Vice President for Marymount’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, also serves as a resident advisor and a peer tutor.

Richie Bonney, Hobart College
Bonney, a native of Norwich, N.Y., helped lead the Statesmen to a 22-7 overall record and their second-straight Liberty League Tournament championship. Hobart then defeated No. 21 University of Scranton in the first round of the NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament, 94-81, before falling to Morrisville State, 86-75, in the second round.

The 2014 Liberty League Player of the Year and a two-time First Team All-Liberty League selection, Bonney recorded 20.4 points per game (second in the conference) and grabbed a league-best 11.0 rebounds per contest. He also logged 21 double-doubles, which is the second best mark in the nation. His 234 field goals made are the second most by a Statesman in a season, while his 591 points rank fifth on Hobart's single-season scoring list. Bonney also holds Hobart career records for points (1,738), field goals made (680), field goal percentage (.583), and games played (114). He finished third in career rebounds (951) and fifth in free throws made (356).

Bonney is just as impressive in the classroom and in the community. In the classroom, Bonney boasts a 3.88 grade point average as a philosophy and public policy studies major. He is a two-time Capital One First Team Academic All-American and was voted the 2013-14 Capital One Academic All-America of the Year for Division III men's basketball. The three-time Liberty League All-Academic Team selection is a Druid and Chimera, Hobart's senior class and junior class honor societies, respectively.

In the community, Bonney has served as a pre-orientation leader for groups of incoming first-years during each of the past two summers, volunteering at Habitat for Humanity build sites in Geneva. He has helped with team basketball clinics in a local elementary school as well as an annual on campus basketball clinic for Ontario ARC.

2014 Finalists


2015 Jostens Trophy Winners

Jess Rheinheimer, Eastern Mennonite University
Rheinheimer, a native of Manheim, Pa., helped guide the Royals to a 23-5 overall record and a trip to the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament, where they fell to fourth-seeded and eventual ODAC champion Virginia Wesleyan College, 78-71, in the semifinals. However, the Royals earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament and defeated La Roche, 77-76, in the first round, but fell to Thomas More, 85-65, in second round action.

Rheinheimer was named the ODAC Player of the Year and the ODAC/Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year for her solid efforts on the court and in the classroom. Rheinheimer led the league in points per game (20.0), total points (560), and field goals made (211-of-417) and was third in three-pointers made (55-of-138). The versatile forward also grabbed 7.8 rebounds per game, including 175 defensive boards (second in the ODAC), and was eighth in the conference with 26 blocked shots. She was also named the USBWA National Player of the Week after scoring 29 and 41 points in back-to-back games during the season.  The junior became EMU's 13th woman to score 1,000 career points, joining the club in the Royals' ODAC Tournament semifinal game.

Rheinheimer's accomplishments extend far beyond the court into the classroom and the community. In the classroom, she sports a 3.96 grade point average as a nursing major and was named to the Capital One Academic All-America First Team, a distinction given to only five women in DIII.  Rheinheimer is an EMU Honors Student and a member of the EMU Student Nurses Association. She also studied in Honduras in the summer of 2013 as part of Eastern Mennonite's cross cultural program.

In the community, Rheinheimer has been a volunteer with various organizations over the years.  While in Honduras, she volunteered with Organization for Youth Empowerment, the Mama Project, and Mennonite Central Committee. In 2012, Rheinheimer volunteered with SWAP in the Appalachian Mountains in Kentucky and YouthWorks in the Adirondack Mountains in New York in 2010. Rheinhemier also dedicated some of her time at Lancaster General Hospital in 2011 and has assisted with vacation bible school every summer since freshman year of high school at her hometown church. Additionally, she volunteers in the nursery and children's church in Manheim and has worked the girls basketball camp at Lancaster Mennonite High School every summer for six years. 

George Bugarinovic, Johns Hopkins University
Bugarinovic, a native of Overland Park, Kansas, helped lead the Blue Jays to a 25-5 overall record and a trip to the Centennial Conference championship game. Johns Hopkins fell to Dickinson, 65-62, in the title game, but earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Division III Men's Basketball Tournament. JHU won its first two games over Keene State and Skidmore, but fell to Babson, 49-47, in the Round of 16. The Blue Jays won a school-record 17 straight games from December 2 until February 11 and the 25 overall wins are also a school record. 

Bugarinovic is a four-time All-CC selection, including a first team honoree this year. He ranks in the top-10 in school history in 13 career categories and is the only player in JHU history to rank in the top-10 in points (1,331), rebounds (751), steals (124) and blocks (100). This year, Bugarinovic poured in 13.6ppg and grabbed 7.4rpg (fifth in the CC). He was also second in the league for steals (43) and eighth for blocks (26). 

Bugarinovic is just as impressive in the classroom and in the community. Bugarinovic boasts a 3.84 grade point average as a double major in public health and natural sciences. He is a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree and a 2015 Third Team CoSIDA Academic All-American. In 2013, Bugarinovic was selected for one of the competitive summer research internships at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research in Kansas City, Mo. During his internship, he investigated the Tcof1, Polr1c and Polr1d genes and their accompanying proteins on the cellular and genetic basis of Treacher Collins syndrome. Bugarinovic has also completed internships at the University of Kansas Molecular Biology Pathology Department and the Jackson County Health Department. As a freshman, he worked as a lab assistant in the Otolaryngology Lab at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. 

In the community, Bugarinovic has participated in numerous initiatives during his time at Hopkins and was a nominee for the NABC Allstate Good Works Team earlier this year. He mentors two underclassmen through Alpha Epsilon Delta's (AED) mentoring program and has participated in community service trips to the Kennedy Kreiger Institute, an institute dedicated to helping children and adolescents with disorders of the brain. He also volunteers his time with organizations such as Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN), a program where he works with children and young adults who have developmental or physical disabilities, and the Maryland School for the Blind (MSB), where he is one of three co-leaders. Addtionally, he has assisted all four years with the President's Day of Service at Johns Hopkins and has served as a translator and interpreter in his hometown and at his hometown church. 

2015 Finalists


2016 Jostens Trophy Winners

Holly Denfeld, Milwaukee School of Engineering
Denfeld, a native of Edgar, Wis., helped lead the Milwaukee School of Engineering women's basketball team to an 18-8 record in 2015-16, a mark that included a 16-4 record in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC).  Denfeld proved the conference's leader in scoring, posting 19.7 points per game and a school-record field goal percentage of 58.4-percent on the way to earning NACC Player of the Year laurels.  She also pulled down 9.7 rebounds per contest and registered 12 double-doubles.

Production certainly was not a problem for the three-time All-NACC First Team choice and career 1,000-point scorer.  Denfeld notched a MSOE record 40 points to go with 17 rebounds in an overtime triumph at Edgewood on February 2.  She tied another school-standard in the 78-72 decision, going 12-for-12 from the foul line on the way to earning USBWA National Player of the Week, D3hoops.com National Team of the Week, and HEROSports.com HERO of the Week accolades.

In the classroom, Denfeld maintains a 4.00 cumulative grade point average as an architectural engineering and construction management major.  She is a two-time Academic All-American, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), adding a first team choice this season to a second team honor in 2014-15.

In addition to balancing her academic and athletic successes, Denfeld has found time to be active in the community. She has logged numerous hours with Habitat for Humanity, Milwaukee Empty Bowls, Kayla's Crew, Sam's Hope, as well as with the Milwaukee Heart Walk and Walk for Diabetes. She's also been a student leader with the MSOE Student-Athlete Advisory Council and on campus.

Trey Bardsley, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Bardsley, a native of Beatrice, Neb., has been a scoring machine for the Prairie Wolves as he is currently on pace to set the Nebraska Wesleyan single-season scoring average record.  He currently averages 28.8 points per game, having racked up a school-record 835 points powered by 138 makes from three-point territory, another school standard.  He shoots at a 52.1-percent clip while also averaging 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.  He's currently third on the NWU career charts with 1,878 points scored.

The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Player of the Year has scored in double figures in all 29 games played this season, registering 14 contests of 30 or more points scored.  That includes a career-best 55-point outburst in which he went 16-of-29 from the field, 11-of-18 from beyond arc, and 12-of-12 from the charity stripe.

In the classroom, Bardsley maintains a 3.50 cumulative grade point average as a business administration major.  He became the eighth Nebraska Wesleyan men's basketball player to earn Academic All-America distinction, as the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) tabbed him to the second team.

In addition to his on-court and classroom exploits, Bardsley has volunteered each year at the Lighthouse, which is a local after school program for middle and high school aged students that gives academic support and enrichment/recreational activities to what are mostly low income students. He has spoken at an assembly at Dawes Middle School about the importance of staying in school to help achieve your dreams, as well as participation in Lend-A-Hand-To-Lincoln through NWU, where he volunteered at the Asian Community and Cultural Center.

2016 Finalists


2017 Jostens Trophy Winners

Lisa Murphy, Carnegie Mellon University
Murphy, a native of McLean, Va., has established herself as the best player in Carnegie Mellon history, and sits amongst the greatest players in the history of the University Athletic Association (UAA) and Division III as a whole.  Murphy is the UAA career scoring leader with 2,306 points. She averaged more than 20 points and 10 rebounds for the third straight year in 2016-17, while leading the nation in field goal percentage (78.0%) for the third consecutive year.  She is one of only eight players in Division III history to record 2,000 career points, 1,000 career rebounds, and 200 career blocks.  Murphy was named a First Team All-America by the WBCA and D3hoops.com in 2016 and was named the UAA Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017.  Murphy was also named the 2017 Great Lakes Region Player of the Year.

One of the most impressive feats of Murphy's career at Carnegie Mellon is the transformation of the basketball program.  In 2015-16 she helped lead the program to its first winning season since 2002-03 and first NCAA tournament appearance since 1990-91 where the Tartans advanced to the sectional semifinal for the first time in school history.  In her four years, the Tartans are a combined 66-40, compared to a 33-68 record the four years prior. The 2016-17 Tartans finished as the ECAC Champions and tied the school record for wins in a season with 21.

In the classroom, Murphy maintains a 3.84 cumulative grade point average as a psychology major.  She is the vice president of Psi Chi, the psychology honor society, and she was elected to the academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa.  In 2016 Murphy was named a First Team Academic All-America, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).  In 2017, CoSIDA named her the Academic All-American of the Year.

In addition to her academic and athletic exploits, Murphy has been very active in the community.  As a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, she has led initiatives such as the annual Field Day and Thanksgiving food drives.  She also organized and ran a 3v3 event for Special Olympics, which included managing more than 100 athletes, parents and coaches.  Murphy helps clean up local trails along the riverfront and she has joined forces with First Trinity Homeless Ministry to deliver lunches to the homeless near campus.

Harrison Blackledge, Hope College
Blackledge, a native of Canton, Ohio, has been a driving force for the Hope men's basketball team all season.  He led the team in scoring with 20 points per game and was second with 5.9 rebounds per game.  He was an efficient scorer converting 56.9-percent of his field goals, 40-percent of his three-point attempts and 79.9-percent of his free throws.  He sits in the Hope records charts with the third-most career made free throws (447) and attempted free throws (571), and he ranks tenth all-time in career field goal percentage (.542). His 601 points this season rank third all-time among Flying Dutchmen players.

Blackledge was presented with the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association's (MIAA) Most Valuable Player award after finishing the year ranked third in scoring, twelfth in rebounding and fifth in field goal percentage for the conference.  He scored in double figures in 28 of 30 games this season and led the Flying Dutchman to the sectional semifinal of the NCAA tournament.

In the classroom, Blackledge maintains a 3.91 cumulative grade point average as a communications and management major.  This year he became only the second Hope men's basketball player to earn Academic All-America distinction, as the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) named him to the first team.

In addition to his on-court and classroom exploits, Blackledge has done extensive work in the community.  For the past four years he has taught basketball to underprivileged students in the community.  He also worked at the local Ronald McDonald House, after-school enrichment programs, and with Special Olympics and the Miracle League.  He also serves as a counselor at the Summer's Best Two Weeks Camp where he mentors students.

2017 Finalists


2018 Jostens Trophy Winners

KAITLYN REED, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
"Kaitlyn is so deserving of this award. She has excelled in the classroom, on the court and in the community," said Head Coach Lauren Hall-Gregory. "Her ability to consistently be at her best is a quality that will leave a lasting impression on our program. She has been a standout in everything she's done, and it's been like that since day one."

Read has concluded an outstanding career at NYU, where she leaves an indelible mark in the team's record books. The University Park, Texas, native has completed her career #2 on NYU's all-time scoring list (1,839), #1 in assists (429) and #2 in steals (400). Playing as a graduate student during her final campaign in 2017-18, Read was named the University Athletic Association (UAA) Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. She led NYU in scoring (19.9 - 3rd-highest in NYU history), assists (5.1) and steals (3.7), while also averaging 5.5 rpg. Her 577 points and 148 assists also set one-season program records. 

"New York University is so proud of Kaitlyn Read," said Assistant Vice President of Students Affairs and Director of Athletics, Christopher Bledsoe. "Throughout her college years, she has battled through adversity and each time Kaitlyn has risen above the challenges to perform at the highest levels both academically and athletically. Kaitlyn is a credit to her family, to New York University and to the game of basketball. Thank you to the committee for selecting Kaitlyn Read and special thank you to Jostens for sponsoring this special award for the past two decades."

Away from the floor, Read completed her undergraduate work last May with a double-major in politics and Spanish, and is now working towards a master's degree in global affairs with a concentration in transnational security. She has been recognized on numerous occasions for her academic success, having earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors twice and UAA All-Academic honors four times.

Read has given back to the campus and local communities in several ways. She led a clinic for aspiring girls basketball players on National Girls and Women in Sports Day in addition to raising funds for breast cancer research at the annual Breast Cancer Walk. She has served in food banks and soup kitchens, and took time out of a study abroad experience in Europe to help at Camp Dynamo, which is a summer camp for ill children.

"I'm so excited to receive such an honor, being chosen among such an incredible group of student-athletes," Read said. "It wouldn't have been possible to achieve without the support from my family, teammates and coaches. I'm especially thankful for the NYU administration for considering me for the nomination process. It has been an amazing last season at NYU!"

NATE AXELROD, OHIO WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
"Nate is an incredibly deserving recipient of the Jostens Award," said Ohio Wesleyan head coach Mike DeWitt. "His receiving this prestigious award is a credit to Nate's incredible work ethic and determination to succeed in every facet of his life, and his efforts along with his eagerness to give back to his community will leave a lasting legacy for our men's basketball program and the entire Ohio Wesleyan family."

Axelrod, a native of Dublin, Ohio, is the first Ohio Wesleyan player to receive the Jostens Trophy. The Battling Bishops point guard was named North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year for the third year in a row, making him the first men's basketball player in conference history to be so honored. He was a first-team All-NCAC selection for the fourth straight season, only the third men's basketball player in conference history to accomplish that feat. He was named NCAC Newcomer of the Year in 2015.

A two-time All-America selection, Axelrod ranks fifth in NCAA Division III in assists (6.8/game). He led the NCAC in scoring (19.2 points/game) and assists, becoming the first player in conference history to lead the league in scoring and assists in a season. Axelrod also ranks second in the league in free throw percentage (.857), is tied for ninth in steals (1.2/game), and is 14th in 3-point field goals (1.9/game). He finished his career as the second Ohio Wesleyan men's basketball player and the fourth in NCAC history to surpass the 2000-point mark, and is Ohio Wesleyan's all-time leader in assists (655) and consecutive games started (114).

"Nate Axelrod epitomizes the values of the scholar-athlete at the Division III level," said Ohio Wesleyan President Rock Jones, Ph.D.  "He has achieved remarkable accomplishments as an athlete, as a student, and as a leader on campus.  He has made an enormous impact at Ohio Wesleyan and will make an even larger one in his life after college.  I can't imagine anyone more deserving or more exemplary than Nate."

Off the court, Axelrod is a finance economics major. He has twice earned Academic All-District distinction, with those honors coming in the past two seasons. He is eligible for Academic All-America consideration, which he also earned in 2017. Both Academic All-District and Academic All-America process are conducted by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Axelrod is active with Big Brothers/Big Sisters as well as in service to the Delaware community through his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta. He is also a volunteer with the ALS Foundation in Delaware, Ohio. He has served his fellow athletes at OWU as a member of the Bishops Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

"It's a huge honor and really means a lot," said Axelrod. "This is something I never thought would happen when I stepped on campus four years ago. I have to give a lot of credit to my family, my coaches, and my teammates. They've taught me a lot of life lessons both on and off the court. This really reflects all the work I've put in over the past 21 years of my life, and I'm really grateful for this honor."

2018 Jostens Trophy Finalists


2019 Jostens Trophy Winners

MADISON TEMPLE, THOMAS MORE UNIVERSITY
“Madison has achieved at a high level during her time at Thomas More University and has carried herself with tremendous passion ever since stepping foot on campus,” said Head Coach Jeff Hans. “Madison wants to be the best and will put extra time into accomplishing any goal that she sets for herself.”

Temple, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, has established herself as one of the most versatile players in Thomas More history. As she leads the team into the 2019 national semifinals, she has already set program records for career points (2,142), field goals made (799), and assists (575). She is also third all-time in rebounds (802). Temple was named the D3hoops.com Great Lakes Region Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019, D3hoops.com First Team All-America in 2018, and WBCA Honorable Mention All-America in 2018. During her four years, Temple has led Thomas More to a 122-3 record while advancing to the national semifinals three of her four years and winning a national championship in 2016.

“Madison is the definition of a well-rounded student-athlete,” said Director of Athletics Terry Connor.  “Madison Temple is a wonderful example of everything an athletic director would want in a student-athlete… and I could not be more proud having her represent Thomas More University.”

In the classroom, Temple maintains a 3.62 grade point average as a sports and entertainment major and business administration minor. She has been on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll every semester and is a member of the Brown Honors Program.

In addition to her academic and athletic exploits, Temple has been very active in the community. She volunteers with Special Olympics, wraps Christmas presents for Catholic Charities, participates in local food drives, and tutors local elementary students.

ASTON FRANCIS, WHEATON (ILL.) COLLEGE
“Aston is the hardest working player I have ever encountered,” said Wheaton head coach Mike Schauer. “He is a talented student at one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges. He has grown into an exceptional leader both on and off the court.“

Francis, a native of Tyler, Texas, has been one of the most electrifying players in Division III men’s basketball this season. He has topped the 40-point total in nine games and recently set the Wheaton single-game scoring record and NCAA Division III tournament record with 62 points in the NCAA sectional final. Francis leads all NCAA divisions with a 33.9 points per game average and leads Division III with 5.42 3-point field goals made per game and 218 made free throws. As Wheaton College heads into the 2019 national semifinals, Francis has already set the NCAA Division III record for points in a season (1,052) and is second all-time in three-pointers made in a season (168). His 383 career three-pointers stand as seventh-best in NCAA Division III history. Francis was named the D3hoops.com Central Region Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019, and D3hoops.com and NABC Second Team All-America in 2018.

Off the court, Francis is very active in his communities, a point Wheaton College President Philip Ryken is proud to highlight. “In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Mr. Francis has a long record of working in disaster recovery in Texas, New Orleans, and Arkansas. Both on and off the court, Aston Francis is a strong and consistent student-athlete with outstanding potential for future leadership.”

Francis has also spent time coaching underprivileged youth, helping local senior citizens with home repairs and maintenance, and participated in mission trips where he rebuilt homes, created a park, and built a basketball court.

In the classroom, Francis holds a 3.24 grade point average while majoring in business and economics. He was a member of the 2017-18 NABC Honors Court as well as a 2018 Jostens Trophy finalist.

2019 Jostens Trophy Finalists


2020 Jostens Trophy Winners

SYDNEY KOPP, DePAUW UNIVERSITY
"Sydney Kopp is the best offensive player I have ever coached," explained DePauw women's basketball head coach Kristin Huffman. "I have been in the coaching profession for over 30 years, serving as head coach at DePauw for the last 27 seasons. I've been blessed with many talented players, past and present, but Sydney is special."

Kopp, a native of Burr Ridge, Ill., will graduate from DePauw as the program's all-time leader in points scored at 1,733. This season, she led Division III in points scored (658) and established new DePauw standards for single-season scoring average (21.9) and three-point field goals made (78). The 2020 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Player of the Year and three-time All-NCAC selection scored in double figures in 29 of 30 games played with 17 games of 20 points or more and four contests of better than 30 markers. Kopp set a school-record in a mid-season victory at Ohio Wesleyan University, going 15-of-19 from the field including 8-of-12 from beyond the arc towards 42 points. She also set a school-record with nine three-pointers in a non-conference victory over Illinois Wesleyan University, a game in which she scored the game-winning bucket in the final seconds.

“Sydney is a competitor with an unwavering work ethic who is intensely focused on her goals and aspirations," said Stevie Baker Watson, the Associate Vice President of Campus Wellness and Director of Athletics at DePauw. "She is a resilient, high functioning leader for her team and she leaves an indelible mark on our program."

In the classroom, Kopp maintains a 3.75 grade point average as a political science major. Earlier this month, Kopp was named a First Team Academic All-American as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). CoSIDA bestowed a further laurel on her resumé as she was tabbed the Academic All-American of the Year for Division III women's basketball. She is the first Tiger to earn such a distinction.

Kopp has been named to the DePauw Dean's List six of seven semesters and selected as a DePauw Honor Scholar, a highly selective program for students who show unusual promise and commitment to the development of the life of the mind. Kopp also is a Chi Alpha Sigma National Scholar Athlete Honor Society inductee.

Kopp volunteers as a court appointed special advocate in which she is assigned to assist a family with a court case involving child support services and Department of Child Services to mediate on behalf of the child's best interest and child's personal desires. Kopp has also volunteered with PeacePlayers International in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where she instructed approximately 150 youth ages 4-16 from Protestant and Catholic backgrounds to use basketball to unite, educate and inspire young people to create a more peaceful world.

As DePauw's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee president, Kopp has organized a biweekly student-athlete counseling group to help reduce the stigma of mental health.

KENA GILMOUR, HAMILTON COLLEGE
“Kena Gilmour is one of the most outstanding people I have met in my life," explained Hamilton men's basketball head coach Adam Stockwell. "He has proven over his time at Hamilton College that he is an incredible athlete; however, his true success is revealed when you learn about him as a person.“

Gilmour, a native of New Paltz, N.Y., is a three-time first team all-conference honoree by the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) and earned its Player of the Year award in 2019. He was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District Team for a third time and his second straight year on the NABC's first team. The former NESCAC Rookie of the Year averaged 22.0 points per game, having played in 24 contests on the way to earning All-Region honors from D3hoops.com. He finished his career fifth on the Continentals all-time scoring list with 1,935 points at an average of 17.9 points over 108 career games. Gilmour also pulled down 615 rebounds, dished out 216 assists, and came up one steal shy of 150 for his career.

"Kena Gilmour epitomizes the Division III student-athlete," said Jon Hind, the Director of Athletics at Hamilton. "He is an exceptional ambassador for our basketball team, athletic department, and institution. Kena is a leader on the court, in the classroom, and throughout our community."

In the classroom, Gilmour maintains a 3.70 grade point average as a government major with minors in women's and gender studies. He made his third appearance on the NESCAC winter all-academic team last week. Gilmour has twice been honored by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) as he earned Academic All-America status this season following an Academic All-District nod last year. A five-time Hamilton Dean's List honoree, Gilmour received several campus awards including the Gerald Fitzgerald Dale Senior Scholarship, Ned Doyle Prize Scholarship, and Michael Maslyn Prize Scholarship.

Gilmour's contributions to his communities have been extensive. He has volunteered his time as a clinician at Special Olympics basketball clinics and "Fun Fridays" at Clinton Elementary, which allows students to see college athletes as role models. He has also been a participant in "Trust Treat" supporting a safe Halloween for children, and been an instructor at youth basketball clinics.

This past year, Gilmour worked with Hamilton Associate Athletic Director, Dr. Miriam Merrill, to create the Athletes of Color Initiative, a support group for students of color at Hamilton College. He also was the residential advisor for Hamilton's Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) this past summer, providing live-in guidance and support to 40 pre-matriculated students.

Gilmour participated in several relief efforts including Oneida County Youth Intergenerational Clean Up, Brothers Organization Area Leaf Raking, and Utica Gardens Clean Up. He also lent his time to fundraising efforts for the YMCA, A Better Chance (ABC House) Bake Sale, and the Black Latino Student Union (BLSU) Emergency Environmental Crisis.

2020 Jostens Trophy Finalists


2022 Jostens Trophy Winners

KENEDY SCHOONVELD, HOPE COLLEGE
"In my 26 years as the head coach at Hope College, Kenedy Schoonveld is the best player I've ever coached," explained Hope head coach Brian Morehouse. "The real beauty to Kenedy lies in her work off the court, serving the at-risk population through her work with local social work organizations, her work with students with special needs, as well as serving for a summer in Africa at an orphanage."

Schoonveld, a senior from Zeeland, Mich., has earned enough awards through five seasons at Hope to fill a large room. Recently named both the WBCA and D3hoops.com Division III Player of the Year, Schoonveld is a six-time All-American with three laurels each from the WBCA and D3hoops.com. Twice she earned D3hoops.com Co-Great Lakes Regional Player of the Year recognition, and received the Region 7 Player of the Year honor outright this season. She also earned D3hoops.com Co-Great Lakes Rookie of the Year distinction in 2017-18. She is a five-time First Team choice by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) with a trio of league MVP honors. She also earned MIAA Rookie of the Year recognition in 2018.

This season, Schoonveld led Hope to its third Division III championship in the program's fourth appearance in the final game. She averaged 11.1 points while shooting 49.1-percent from the field, 41.8-percent from three-point range, and 83.0-percent from the foul line. She pulled down 4.0 rebounds per game and dished out 70 assists (2.1/g) with 53 steals and 17 blocked shots. She boasted an impressive 3.30 assist-to-turnover ratio. Schoonveld will graduate as the Flying Dutch's all-time second leading scorer with 1,479 points with 263 assists and 198 steals. She shot .488 (559-of-1146) from the field, .400 (167-of-417) from beyond the arc, and .808 (194-of-240) from the foul line. Schoonveld never missed a game during her career. Her 138 games played were all as a starter and serve as the team record.

In the classroom, Schoonveld boasts a 3.8 GPA as a social work major. She has been accepted into Baylor University's graduate school for social work, an opportunity she was able to delay for a year so she could play her fifth season of basketball in 2021-22. She will soon become a five-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll, and has previously been honored by the conference with the Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Award as the conference's top female student-athlete. She earned Academic All-America distinction from CoSIDA in 2021.

Schoonveld's community service exploits have been numerous, focusing on work with children of special needs. She worked with local area Special Olympics chapters for three years prior to the pandemic. She spent three years at a Miracle League baseball and softball facility designed for those with special needs. The former vice-president for the Phi Alpha social work honor society served one year in a dementia unit at Resthaven Good Shepherd's Home.

Schoonveld traveled abroad to further her reach helping those in need. She spent one summer in Africa in Lesotho interning with Beautiful Gate Lesotho Childcare Centre. Beautiful Gate was founded in 2001 in response to the overwhelming rates of orphaned, abandoned, HIV-infected, and other vulnerable children in Lesotho. Beautiful Gate focuses on providing residential care for infants and children predominantly between the ages of birth and five years old.

JACK DAVIDSON, WABASH COLLEGE
“Driven, talented, focused, compassionate. Jack Davidson is all of these things on and off the court, but so much more," explained Wabash College head coach Kyle Brumett. "Jack is the most driven basketball student-athlete that I have coached in my 23 years at the Division III level."

Davidson, a senior from Fishers, Ind., features a full trophy case of athletic and academic honors that began in 2017-18 with the Newcomer of the Year award from the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) and was the only first-year athlete to earn all-league status that season. He is a four-time All-NCAC honoree and twice honored as the NCAC Player of the Year. He is a three-time All-American, earning high recognition twice from the NABC and once from D3hoops.com. He is a former region player of the year for both outfits and also earned a spot on the NABC Honors Court following the 2019-20 season.

This season, Davidson finished third in the country in scoring at 25.5 points per game and led Division III with 817 total points scored. As prolific a scorer as he is, Davidson surprises with his efficiency as a "50/40/90" shooter. Twice he has posted shooting percentages at or better than 50-percent from the field -- .497 (192-of-386) in 2018-19 and .530 (242-of-457) in 2021-22 -- 40-percent from three-point range -- .434 (66-of-152) in 2018-19 and .482 (123-of-255) in 2021-22 -- and 90-percent from the foul line -- .931 (202-of-217) in 2018-19 and .909 (210-of-231) in 2021-22. Davidson became the all-time leading scorer in Little Giants history earlier this season with his career mark standing at 2,464 points in 110 games played (22.4/g), all starts. He proved more adept as a playmaker the last two seasons, posting 104 and 124 helpers, respectively, to bring his career total to 376 assists (3.4/g). His career shooting percentages are eye-opening at .486 (706-of-1454) from the field, .456 (323-of-708) from deep, and .873 (708-of-811) from the charity stripe.

In the classroom, Davidson boasts a 3.68 grade point average as an economics major. Three times he has been honored as an Academic All-American by CoSIDA, including first team recognition this year. Following his freshman season, Davidson was selected to Wabash's highly competitive Center for Innovation, Business, and Entrepreneurship. Through that program, he has spent the past several summers in multiple internships developing his business acumen and skills. During the school year, he and his small cohort of fellow students put their new learned skills to use in the Crawfordsville and Indianapolis communities supporting local businesses with a variety of projects they otherwise would not have been able to achieve.

Davidson is also active in service to his surrounding communities. He has worked with the Montgomery County Special Olympics as a member of the Wabash's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and was involved in the coordination of a lunch buddies program that paired students with special needs from a local high school with student leaders. Davidson was also active with "Books, Basketball, and Beyond," which is a program developed by the Little Giants basketball program that involves meeting with local kindergarten and first-grade students to help develop and strengthen their reading skills while also serving as role models.

2022 Jostens Trophy Finalists