Calvin's Verkaik, Randolph's Hunt Win 2013 Jostens Awards

FOREST, Va. --- Carissa Verkaik of Calvin College and Randolph College's Colton Hunt are the recipients of the 2013 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 21, held in conjunction with the Salem Rotary Club's weekly meeting at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Va.

VERKAIK NAMED WINNER OF THE 2013 JOSTENS TROPHY

"When she graduates, Carissa will be remembered not only as one of Calvin's finest female athletes, she will be remembered as one of our finest well-rounded students who made the most of her collegiate experience," said Dr. Nancy Meyer, Director of Women's Athletics at 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.

She helped Calvin post an overall record of 100-16 during her four-year collegiate career which included three MIAA regular season titles and four trips to the NCAA III Tournament including a berth in the national quarterfinals in 2012. This year Calvin finished 23-4 overall including 15-1 in conference play as the Knights gained a share of the MIAA regular season title and later earned a bid to the NCAA III Tournament.

Verkaik was most recently named the D3hoops.com Great Lakes Region Player of the Year for the third consecutive year and was named a State Farm Division III All-American by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association of American for the second straight year. In addition, she is one of three finalists for the State Farm Division III Player of the Year Award presented by the WBCA.

"I would describe Carissa as a leader and role model, one who is very out-going, loyal, and admired by her peers," noted Calvin head coach John Ross.  "She is motivated, disciplined and takes pride in being part of a team.  The success of our program, which includes two conference titles and three NCAA appearances, would not have happened with Carissa's leadership and drive."

An education major, Verkaik was recently named the Division III Capital One Academic All-American of the Year and also landed a spot on the Capital One Academic All-America first team. She was named to the Capital One Academic All-American third team the year before. She carries a 3.76 grade point average and is a two-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.

She has also been active in the community. Some of her volunteer activities include serving as a mentor in the Special Olympics program, serving as a tutor with local elementary school children, serving as a praise and worship leader in her church and organizing a middle-school book club group. She is currently student-teaching at Potter’s House Christian School in southwest Grand Rapids.

Verkaik is a two-sport athlete at Calvin, also competing on the outdoor women’s track and field team. Last spring, she repeated as MIAA champion in the high jump and later qualified for the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the event for the second consecutive year.

HUNT NAMED WINNER OF THE 2013 JOSTENS TROPHY

"Without question, Colton sets himself apart from any other student-athlete I have had the pleasure of working with in my 23+ years of NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics administration," explained Tina Hill, Director of Athletics at 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.

Hunt is a three-time All-ODAC First Team honoree on the basketball court, and holds the Randolph College record for points in a career with 1,878. He was named an ODAC Player of the Week four times, as well as a D3hoops.com National Team of the Week honoree twice. Hunt became the first-ever player in the ODAC to score over 1,800 points, grab 600 rebounds, dish out 200 assists and snatch 200 steals.

"The Jostens Trophy recognizes excellence at the highest level, and this award is a reflection of the efforts of Colton and others.  Clearly, it speaks to the high standard and hard work that Colton has embraced throughout his entire four years," said Randolph head coach Clay Nunley.  "It's a testament to his teammates who worked to put him in position to be successful, and to many faculty who invested in Colton in the classroom.  It's a credit to the support Colton received from staff members at the College and from his friends and peers around campus."

The guard is not only a standout on the court but in the classroom as well. Earlier this season, Hunt was named as the 2013 Capital One Academic All-American of the Year for NCAA Division III men's basketball (as selected by CoSIDA), as he posted a 3.94 GPA in economics with minors in physics and finance. Hunt was named the ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the third consecutive season this year.

He is a member of three Honor Societies at Randolph College, including the Omicron Delta Epsilon Economics Honor Society, Sigma Pi Sigma Physics Honor Society, and Chi Alpha Sigma Athletic Honor Society. He has been a Dean's List honoree all seven semesters at Randolph.

Colton also shined in the community, as he served as a peer tutor in economics, business, math and calculus as well as physics at Randolph. He has volunteered at basketball camps in his hometown of Whittier, N.C., and also read to local elementary students and contributed to Randolph's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

--- The Calvin College and Randolph College sports information departments contributed to this release. ---
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