Ripon’s Wurtz, University of Chicago’s Simpson Honored

SALEM, Va. --- Aris Wurtz of Ripon College and University of Chicago’s Taylor Simpson are the 2012 recipients of the Jostens Trophy.  The annual awards recognize outstanding student-athletes in NCAA Division III basketball for excellence in the classroom, on the playing court and in the community.

The winners were chosen by a national selection committee that consists of college coaches, former athletes, college administrators and selected members of the media. The members of the national selection committee cast their votes based on three criteria: basketball ability, academic prowess and community service.

The awards presentation for the Jostens Trophy is set for March 15 held in conjunction with the Salem Rotary Club's weekly meeting at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Virginia.

WURTZ FINISHES IMPRESSIVE ATHLETIC AND ACADEMIC CAREER
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.

SIMPSON EARNS RECOGNITION ON THE COURT, IN THE CLASSROOM AND IN THE COMMUNITY
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.

JOSTENS TROPHY CELEBRATES 15TH ANNIVERSARY
The Josten's Trophy is a joint creation of Jostens, Inc., of Minneapolis, Minn., and the Rotary Club of Salem, Va. The purpose of the award is to honor the true Division III student-athlete - the athlete that shows excellence in the classroom, on the playing floor and in the community. In addition to the Trophy, the Wooldridge Scholarship, a $1,000 donation, will be presented in the name of the winner to his/her institution. The scholarship was named after Dan Wooldridge, a Salem Rotarian and retired Commissioner of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference, as a way of honoring him for his long-time dedication to Division III athletics.

** Minneapolis-based Jostens is a leading provider of products and services that help recognize achievement and affiliation throughout people's lives. The company specializes in championships rings and awards in addition to yearbooks, class rings, graduation products, school photography and corporate programs.

JOSTENS TROPHY RECIPIENTS