Sioux City, Iowa – The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) is proud to announce those chosen as the 2020 nominees for the top honors in the NAIA, including the A.O. Duer Award, the Emil S. Liston Award, Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award and the NAIA Coach of Character Award.
“Each year I am continually amazed by the talent and accomplishments of the nominees for these awards,” said GPAC Commissioner Corey Westra. “I have no doubt that the GPAC nominees again will be strong candidates at the national level. Naming these nominees is one of most exciting things we do as a conference each year.”
The national winners will be named during the NAIA National Awards Day on September 15, 2020. The NAIA winners will be recognized as part of the NAIA National Awards Luncheon at the NAIA National Convention.
NAIA Emil S. Liston Award
The Liston Award is named in honor of the NAIA’s first executive secretary and the prime mover behind the NAIA Men’s Basketball National Tournament. The award has been presented annually since 1950 to one junior men’s and one junior women’s basketball student-athlete who has shown high athletic and scholastic achievement.
Female Nominee: Erika Feenstra, Dordt University
Erika Feenstra, a women’s basketball player from Dordt University, is the GPAC female nominee for the NAIA Emil S. Liston Award.
Feenstra, from Hull, Iowa, holds a GPA of 3.99 while majoring Exercise Science with minors in Psychology and Biomedical Sciences minor. She is a two-time NAIA All-American and is currently second on the Dordt all-time scoring list.
“I am very familiar with the demands of balancing the curricular and extra-curricular responsibilities as a
student-athlete,” said Mark Christians, Dordt Professor of Psychology. “Erika has clearly met these demands with consistency and success. Along with her excellent performance on the basketball court, Erika always puts her academic endeavors first and foremost and can prioritize her responsibilities in an efficient manner.”
“As an athlete, Erika has certainly been blessed with tremendous physical ability,” said Dale Zevenbergen, Business Administration Instructor and Faculty Athletics Representative at Dordt. “But her discipline, unwavering work ethic, and leadership skills are really what make her the standout player she has become. As a person, Erika’s Christian faith and character shines through in her daily life.”
Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award
Nominee: Rachel Evavold, Dordt University
Rachel Evavold, of Dordt University, a native of Bloomington, Minnesota, is the GPAC nominee for the Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award. This award is presented annually to an NAIA Student-Athlete who embodies the NAIA Champions of Character initiative and the five core values of respect, integrity, responsibility, servant leadership, and sportsmanship.
Evavold graduated with a Special Education Major and a 3.685 GPA. A two-sport standout for the Defenders while competing in both basketball and softball, she plans to enter the Dordt Graduate Education program and play her final season of softball.
During her time at Dordt she has been both to the All-GPAC teams in both basketball and softball. In addition to her accolades on the field she has been honored in the classroom, being named an NAIA Scholar Athlete in both sports.
“Rachel is the definition of a student athlete,” said Bill Harmsen, Head Basketball Coach at Dordt. “Academics are her number one priority. Rachel Displays Christian values in her lifestyle and servant leadership. She is always looking out for the best interests of her team on and off the floor.”
“Rachel has been above reproach in her character while participating in both the women’s basketball and softball programs. Her ability to manage her time appropriately while pursuing excellence has been impressive.,” said Jeff Zomer, Head Softball Coach at Dordt. “If that is not enough, she has been serving young people by working at a local Behavioral Care Specialist facility where she cares for and works with children with autism.”
NAIA Coach of Character Award
Nominee: Nate Wolf, Dordt University
Nate Wolf from Dordt University is the GPAC nominee for the NAIA Coach of Character Award. This award recognizes a head coach who is dedicated to deliberately teaching character through sport.
Wolf is the head men’s and women’s cross country coach at Dordt.
“His message is both calculated and intentional. Nate Wolf is a passionate leader and a person of character.,” said Dordt Athletic Director Ross Douma. “He coaches and instructs at a level that has lasting implications on his student-athletes as they are profoundly affected by his nurturing.”
At the beginning of each competition season, Coach Wolf and his program routinely host and administer a community fun run entitled the Beating Hearts 5K. Proceeds from this event go to the Beating Hearts Adoption Program which assists families in the local community in covering expenses relative to the adoption process. Not only does the cross-country program financially assist families in the community, but student-athletes also gain a greater understanding of the adoption process and the commitment families make toward raising children in a dignified manner.
Additionally, he has the cross-country program partner with One Body One Hope to provide shoes for children in Liberia, Africa. Rooted in Sioux Center, Iowa, the mission and vision of One Body One Hope is to provide ongoing support for the people of Liberia. Hosting a shoe drive has become an annual endeavor for the cross-country program. Students at Dordt University have become accustomed to participating in this yearly charity event and are conditioned to save their shoes for this cause. Due to an aggressive marketing campaign, over 150 pairs of shoes are annually delivered to children in Liberia. This illustration serves to exemplify the outreach his program has both on our campus and beyond.
The national winners will be announced during the 2020 NAIA Awards Day on September 15.
