Salem, Va. – The top 10 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 and 10 women finalists.
The list of finalists found below will be forwarded on to the 34-person national selection committee, which will complete the selection process by picking a men and women’s Jostens Trophy winner.
The finalists are as follows:
Brady Barke, Webster University
Melody Bongiorno, Chapman University
Justin Call, Emory & Henry College
Lauren Harris, Hardin-Simmons Univ.
Russ Churchwell, Oglethorpe University
Liz Martin, The College of New Jersey
Michael Crotty, Williams College
Kay Mikolajzak, Univ. of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Nick Grimmer, SUNY Institute of Technology Tara Rausch,
Wilmington College
Robert Hennington, Emerson College
Kathleen Robinson, Swarthmore College
Joel Kolmodin, Wheaton College
Hayley Smith, Maryville College
Jeffrey Monroe, Hampden-Sydney College
Becca Sparth, Univ. of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Dennis Stanton, Ursinus College
Rachael Turkington, Clark University
Tommy Stolhandske, Texas Lutheran Univ. Tiffini Varrasse, Kings College
Final ballots for the award are due no later than March 4 with the winning school notified on March 5. The awards presentation is scheduled for Thursday, March 18 at the Salem Civic Center in conjunction with the Men’s Division III Championship being hosted in Salem, Va., on March 19-20.
The Jostens Trophy is a national award created by the Rotary Club of Salem, Va., to honor the most outstanding men and women’s 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 motto of “Service above Self” by recognizing those who truly fit the ideal of the “well-rounded” Division III student-athlete
Additional information on the award can be found at www.odaconline.com/jostens/jostens.htm