KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Finalists for the 2011-12 Ken B. Jones Awards as MIAA Student-Athletes of the Year have been determined. Shawn Boss (Central Missouri), Ryan Dougherty (Southwest Baptist), and Alex Whitehill (Fort Hays State) are the men’s finalists, while the women’s finalists are Mollie Lacy (Washburn), Lindsay Lettow (Central Missouri), and Katelyn Mona (Emporia State).
The award, which is in its 19th year, is named in honor of the man who served as the MIAA’s first full-time commissioner for 16 years. Jones retired in 1997 and passed away in May 2004. He was inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame in the inaugural Class of 2010. One male and one female are selected for the Ken B. Jones Awards, with the finalists invited to the annual MIAA Awards Dinner, which is set for June 7 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown in Kansas City, Mo.
A 12-member panel of athletics directors, senior woman administrators, faculty athletics representatives and sports information directors – including a representative from each member institution – selects the finalists.
Each nominee is judged in four areas: 2011-12 Athletics Accomplishments; 2011-12 Academic Accomplishments; 2011-12 Campus/Community Service; and Career Athletics, Academics and Service Achievements.
To be nominated, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.00 cumulative grade-point average as of April 1, and must have completed at least their junior season of eligibility in the 2011-12 academic year.
Women’s Finalists
Mollie Lacy
Washburn
Volleyball
5-11, Sr., Crete, Neb.
Major(s): Nursing
Cumulative GPA: 4.00
2011-12 Athletic Accomplishments (45%): Mollie Lacy completed her college career with her fourth straight All-MIAA honor by earning her third straight appointment to the first team. She also earned two more all-region honors with a Daktronics second team appointment and AVCA honorable mention, giving her four all-region awards in her career.
She reached the 1,000 kill mark, a pinnacle in one’s volleyball career, during her senior year and finished her career 12th in school history with 1,220 kills. She finished first at Washburn with a .365 career attack percentage after all four of her single-season percentages cracked the top six in Washburn history. Lacy also became just the eighth player in school history to record 1,000 kills and 300 blocks. She led the Lady Blues this year with 108 total blocks and 0.90 per set and she was second with a .341 attack percentage.
2011-12 Academic Accomplishments (25%): Mollie Lacy earned her second straight Capital One Academic All-America award by being named to the first team. She kept a 4.00 in nursing for the fourth straight year. Lacy also earned first team Capital One Academic all-district. She will earn the MIAA Academic Excellence Award for the fourth straight year, as well as MIAA Scholar Athlete and Academic All-MIAA awards.
Lacy earned spots on the President’s Honor Roll at Washburn as well as the Clousing Nursing Scholarship and Anspaugh Nursing Scholarship.
2011-12 Campus/Community Service (15%): Participated in a Family Fun Night at a local elementary school, participating in sporting activities with the students while helping to raise money.
Career Athletic, Academic and Service Accomplishments (15%): Mollie Lacy earned All-MIAA third team her freshman year in 2008 and then earned three straight All-MIAA first team awards after that, giving her an All-MIAA honor all four years. She was named an AVCA honorable mention all-American in 2009 after setting a school record with a .405 attack percentage, becoming the first Lady Blue to hit over .400 in a season. She has earned AVCA all-region honors three times with first team honors in 2009 and 2010 and an honorable mention selection this year. She also earned Daktronics all-region this year with a second team selection.
Lacy hit .365 in her career to set a school record, shattering the second place mark of a .326 attack percentage. All four of her single-season percentages are in the top six in school history. She finished 13th in school history with 1,220 kills and she became just the eighth Lady Blue to reach 1,000 kills and 300 blocks in a career.
Lacy was just as impressive academically as she was on the court. She earned two Capital One Academic All-America awards with a first team honor her senior year and second team honor her junior year. She earned first team all-district both those years. Lacy kept a 4.00 all four years and will finish her career with four MIAA Academic Excellence Awards, four MIAA Scholar Athlete Awards and four Academic All-MIAA awards.
Along with that national and regional recognition, Lacy was rewarded on campus for her classroom work. She made the President’s Honor Roll all four years and eight semesters. She earned the Clousing Nursing Scholarship twice and two other nursing scholarships throughout her time at Washburn. She plans to graduate in December 2012 and is a candidate for the NCAA Degree Completion Scholarship.
During her time at Washburn she worked with many community engagement projects. She volunteered with the Special Olympics in 2008 and 2009, helping with organization and set-up both years. She chaperoned a group one year and helped with participation in planned activities. She was also a member of the Washburn Student Athlete Advisory Committee from 2008-2010 and helped with various activities including reading to elementary students once a year. She was also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for two years and met regularly with the group.
Lindsay Lettow
Central Missouri
Women’s Track & Field
5-9, Sr., Urbandale, Iowa
Major(s): Psychology with a minor in Spanish
Cumulative GPA: 3.84
2011-12 Athletic Accomplishments (45%): Dr. Peggy Martin Award winner as Central Missouri’s Top Female Senior Student-Athlete…won the NCAA Division II Indoor pentathlon national championship with an all-time NCAA-II record score of 4,193 points, breaking her own record which she set as a junior … that Indoor pentathlon score ranked 6th in the United States in 2012, and was the third-best score by a U.S. collegian … National Runner-Up in the high jump at the Indoor National Championships … also earned Indoor All-America honors in the long jump … named USTFCCCA Indoor Female Athlete of the Year for the second straight year … named 2012 USTFCCCA South Central Region Outdoor Female Field Athlete of the Year … recorded the third-highest score in Division II history in the heptathlon at 5,703 points earlier this spring, that point total ranks third in NCAA regardless of division, sixth in the United States (amateur or professional) and 30th in the World … that total earned her a “B Standard” in qualifying her for the 2012 US Olympic Trials where she will compete for a spot on the US Olympic Track & Field Team … captured three MIAA individual championships at the indoor meet and two at the outdoor meet … captured the MIAA Female High Point Athlete of the Meet honors at the indoor meet for the third straight year and the High Point Athlete of the Meet at the outdoor championships for third time in her career (’09, ’10 & ’12) … Set seven UCM records, re-setting five of her own previously held school records … a two-time MIAA Women’s Track & Field Athlete of the Week … one of only two female Division II track & field athletes named to the Bowerman Award watch list for Outstanding Male & Female Collegiate Track & Field Athletes of the Year.
2011-12 Academic Accomplishments (25%): 3.84 GPA in psychology with a minor in Spanish … Awarded prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship … UCM Dean’s List … NCAA-II Conference Commissioner’s Association Regional Scholar-Athlete of the Year … Red & Black Academic Scholarship … National Society of Collegiate Scholars … Delta Epsilon Iota Honors Fraternity … Psi Chi International Honors Society … will be a 2012 MIAA Scholar Athlete Award Winner and MIAA Academic Honor Roll member … Lead Investigator for research project, in which the findings were presented at the 24th Annual Association for Psychological Science Convention in Chicago.
2011-12 Campus/Community Service (15%): Vice President in charge of external operations – UCM Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) … served as a member of the Jennies “Literacy Team” that visited local elementary schools to read newly purchased books to young students … Active participant in Mules and Jennies for Joplin bracelet distribution and clothing drive to aid tornado relief in Joplin … a member of the student organization Psi Chi, which is active in the department of psychological science to contribute to the community and the profession … participant for Angel Tree … volunteer at Warrensburg Manor Nursing Home and Warrensburg Veterans Home … volunteered to tutor fellow UCM students in Spanish… In the fall she can be found putting her musical talents to work singing the National Anthem before UCM home sporting events … worked with Soles for Souls, an organization that collects shoes for people in third-world countries.
Career Athletic, Academic and Service Accomplishments (15%): Athletic: 2010-11 Ken B. Jones Award Winner as MIAA’s top female student-athlete as a junior, only the second female in the history of the award to win it as a junior … A three-time National Champion winning the pentathlon in 2011 and 2012 and the heptathlon in 2011 … A 13-time All-American and four-time United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Field Athlete of the Year … Lettow has claimed 15 MIAA championships with 40 All-MIAA performances … set three MIAA Indoor championship meet records in 2011 … owns 9 school records, two MIAA Indoor championship meet records and two NCAA Division II records … appears in the top five of the all-time UCM list in seven other events, and in the UCM top ten list a total of 18 times … has won the High Point Award at the MIAA Championships six times in eight total MIAA championship meets … three-time South Central Region Field Athlete of the Year … finished ninth in the heptathlon at the 2011 United States Track & Field Championships … competed for Team USA in the 2011 Jim Thorpe Cup, an annual heptathlon and decathlon competition between the United States and Germany.
Academic: Lindsay was one of 29 female athletes, regardless of division, from the 2011-12 winter sports season to be awarded a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship (both MIAA recipients were from UCM) … a four-time MIAA Scholar Athlete Award winner … Four-time MIAA Academic Honor Roll … 2010-2011 NCAA-II Conference Commissioner’s Association Regional Scholar-Athlete of the Year … Three-time National Women’s Track & Field All-Academic Team … named to UCM Dean’s List every semester … Red & Black Academic Scholarship 2008-2011 … research assistant in psychology department’s behavioral medicine and biofeedback laboratory.
Katelyn Mona
Emporia StateCross Country/Track & Field
5-8, Sr., Lenexa, Kan.
Major(s): Health Promotions
Cumulative GPA: 3.99
2011-12 Athletic Accomplishments (45%): Was named ESU Female Student-Athlete of the Year…three-time champion at the MIAA Indoor Track & Field Championships…earned All-American honors in the indoor 800m…had an automatic qualifier in the mile but only ran the 800m at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field championships…broke 24 year old MIAA record in the mile run, clocking a 4:54.04 to better the record of 4:55.24 set by Central Missouri’s Connie Frank in 1988…set ESU records in mile and 3000m indoors…ran 4:48.55 at the Iowa State Classic to break Jonel Rossbach’s mark of 4:50.65 in the mile set in 2007…rank 9:47.15 at the UCM Invite to break Rossbach’s mark of 9:50.39 set in 2008…is ranked second all-time indoors in 800m with 2:10.75 set at Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational…was runner-up in two events at the MIAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships…will compete in the 1500m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships…became the first woman at ESU to run under 4:30 in the 1500m outdoors since 1986 when she turned in a 4:29.00 at the KU Relays…is ranked second all-time at ESU in 1500m behind Kelly McCammon’s 4:26.20 at the 1986 NAIA National Championships…has run provisional qualifier in both the 800m and 1500m outdoors…all-region selection in 1500m with second best mark in the South Central Region…earned All-MIAA honors with eighth place finish in women’s cross country…was an All-Region performer in cross country with a 17th place finish at the regional meet…won three straight regular season meets in cross country.
2011-12 Academic Accomplishments (25%): Had 4.0 GPA in both semesters this year…will be named MIAA Scholar Athlete and member of MIAA Academic Honor Roll…member of ESU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and ESU Dean’s List…USTFCCCA All-Academic performer…nominee for Academic All-American.
2011-12 Campus/Community Service (15%): Named ESU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s Wal-Mart Without Peer Award winner for community service, academics and athletic accomplishments…participated in Emporia Clean Sweep, a community wide effort to clean up the city of Emporia…assisted with the Drive for Food can drive that helped fill the Emporia Salvation Army food pantry…raked yards of senior citizens in Emporia with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) club…took part in Laps for Landon, a fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, named for Landon Doty the son of an ESU faculty member…volunteered with Westside Family Church to clean safe houses and paint buildings in the Kansas City area and served at the Church’s café on selected Sundays when not competing
Career Athletic, Academic and Service Accomplishments (15%): Ten-time MIAA Champion and 20-time All-MIAA honoree in cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field…three-time All-American entering this year’s outdoor national championships…ESU record holder in three events and ranked second in another…was ESU Undergraduate Award of Excellence winner as a junior…four-time USTFCCCA All-Academic performer…CoSIDA Academic All-District as a junior…member of SAAC…created sport specific videos for the ESU athletics website…helped out with ESU fun runs and multiple events at her church…has one A- on her record that has kept her from a perfect 4.00 GPA.
Men’s Finalists
Shawn Boss
Central Missouri
Men’s Track & Field
6-2, 175, Sr., Oak Grove, Mo.
Major(s): Computer Information Systems with minor in Management
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
2011-12 Athletic Accomplishments (45%): Vernon Kennedy Award winner as Central Missouri’s top Male Senior Student-Athlete…National Runner-Up in the heptathlon…2nd in heptathlon at MIAA Indoor Championships…3rd in decathlon at MIAA Outdoor Championships…has provisionally qualified for outdoor championships…Two All-MIAA performances this year (heptathlon and decathlon).
2011-12 Academic Accomplishments (25%): 4.0 GPA in computer information systems with a minor in management … Elite 89 Award winner at NCAA-II Indoor Track & Field Championships; award given to competing athlete with highest overall GPA at the championships … NCAA Track & Field Academic All-American … UCM Dean’s List … Two-time winner of Fall KCP&L Programming competition … CIS Outstanding Achievement Award … Integrative Business Experience Company President … Honor’s College at UCM … Association of Information Technology Professionals … Delta Sigma Pi Professional fraternity … National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
2011-12 Campus/Community Service (15%): Helped raise money for Gabi Schull, a young cancer patient in Warrensburg community, as her family was in need of assistance in a tough time. Shawn helped coordinate with Delta Sigma Pi to raise funds to aid the family…member of Delta Sigma Pi Adopt-a-highway cleanup along Highway 50 in and around Warrensburg for last three years…participated in canned food drives to support Harvesters and the Warrensburg Food Pantry.
Career Athletic, Academic and Service Accomplishments (15%): Athletic: Vernon Kennedy Award winner as top UCM Male Senior Student-Athlete…three-time All-American in Heptathlon, 2010-2012…National Heptathlon Runner-Up at 2012 Indoor Championships, also placed 3rd in 2011 and 6th in 2010…Decathlon National Qualifier in 2011 and has provisionally qualified for 2012 championships…helped the Mules to seven MIAA Track & Field Championships out of a possible eight (4 indoor and 3 outdoor titles)…integral part of two 4th place team finishes at NCAA Indoor Championships (2010 and 2011) and 6th place finish in 2012…9 All-MIAA performances during his career.
Academic: Two-time NCAA Elite 89 Award winner at NCAA Indoor Championships, award is given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA competing at the championships…CoSIDA 1st Team Academic All-American in 2010-11 (2012 still to be decided later in May), 3rd Team Academic All-American in 2009-10…4-time NCAA Track & Field Academic All-American…Earned Bright Flight Scholarship in Missouri with ACT of 31 or higher…awarded UCM Red & Black scholarship for academic achievement…UCM Dean’s List every semester…HCBA Honor Roll all four years…three-time winner of KCP&L Programming competition…three times named CIS Outstanding Student Achievement Award winner…IBE (Integrative Business Experience) Company President…participated in canned food drive for Warrensburg Food Pantry (2010)…volunteered to be support staff on course for Warrensburg 5k in 2010…Mule Haul participant, helping other students move into their dorm rooms, unloading furniture and belongings on move in day (2011).
Ryan Dougherty
Southwest Baptist
Men’s Basketball5-11, 180, Sr., Fort Worth, Texas
Major(s): Biology (Pre-Physical Therapy)
Cumulative GPA: 3.622
2011-12 Athletic Accomplishments (45%): Ryan Dougherty had a record setting season in 2011-12 earning All-MIAA First Team and All-MIAA Defensive Team honors. Dougherty was also named to the 2012 NABC All-South Central Second Team. This season Dougherty ranked in the top five in the MIAA for points (4th, 16.4 ppg), field goal percentage (5th, 47.3%), 3 point field goals made (4th, 2.6 per game), assist to turnover ratio (3rd, 2.1), and minutes played (1st, 34.7 minutes per game).
2011-12 Academic Accomplishments (25%): Ryan Dougherty was named to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-American First Team after being named to the Academic All-District First Team earlier in the year. When the MIAA Academic Awards are released later this summer, Ryan will have earned the Scholar-Athlete Award (3.5 cumulative GPA plus All-MIAA Honors) and will also be named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. Ryan maintained an excellent 3.622 GPA while pursuing his degree in Biology (Pre-Physical Therapy). He will graduate this May and has been accepted into SBU’s PT program and will start next fall.
2011-12 Campus/Community Service (15%): Ryan Dougherty has stayed very active within the campus and community during his entire four-year career at SBU. In this past year alone Ryan has been an active member of SAAC (Student Athletic Advisory Committee) to help athletes receive a voice within the University and has also volunteered two separate times in Special Olympics events held on the SBU campus, once during the fall of 2011 and once during the winter of 2012. Ryan has spent multiple days volunteering at different retirement homes in Bolivar, helping clean up litter around the home and entertaining and spending time with their residents.
Career Athletic, Academic and Service Accomplishments (15%): Ryan Dougherty has helped re-write the record books at SBU, joining the prestigious 1,000 point club this season. Ryan broke SBU career school records for 3 point baskets made (218), games played (119), and minutes played (3,133). Ryan also ranks in the top 10 all-time in several other categories including: points (6th, 1,322), assists (7th, 318), and steals (5th, 136).
Ryan was named to the NABC 2010-11 Honors Court, and has been a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll all four years while at SBU. In 2012 Ryan was also awarded the Orlin B. Stewart Award, handed out by a member of the Bolivar community, and the Rex Brown Award, which is an honor given to the top male senior athlete at SBU.
Ryan is a two-year member of SAAC (Student Athletic Advisory Committee) and remained extremely involved within the Bolivar community during his time at SBU. Ryan volunteered six separate times during Special Olympics events held on the SBU campus from 2009-2012, sang Christmas Carols to special needs children in 2009, shoveled snow for the elderly in 2009 and 2010, volunteered at the First Baptist Church Basketball Clinic in 2010, and volunteered at retirement homes in 2011 and 2012.
Alex Whitehill
Fort Hays State
Football
6-3, 220, Sr., McPherson, Kan.
Major(s): Nursing
Cumulative GPA: 3.54
2011-12 Athletic Accomplishments (45%): Daktronics First Team All-American, Beyond College Sports Network Second Team All-American, Don Hansen Third Team All-American, and D2Football.com All-American Honorable Mention at linebacker… Daktronics and Don Hansen All-Super Region 4 First Team selection at linebacker… All-MIAA First Team selection at linebacker… Led NCAA Division II in tackles with 164 and set new FHSU records for total tackles and assisted tackles in a single season… Broke the NCAA Division II record for most assisted tackles in a season with 106, breaking the old mark of 105 set by Brian Holliday of Fayetteville State in 2002… Recorded at least 10 tackles in 9 of 11 games in 2011 and never had less than 7 in a game… Recorded at least 20 tackles in 3 games… Named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week on November 14, 2011 for his school and NCAA record setting efforts in the final game of the season.
2011-12 Academic Accomplishments (25%): 2011 CoSIDA/Capital One First Team Academic All-American… One of just six linebackers in NCAA Division II to earn Academic All-American honors in 2011… CoSIDA/Capital One First Team Academic All-District honors in 2011… Became the 11th Academic All-American selection for FHSU in football all-time… Will earn the MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award in the summer of 2012 and earned the same honor last year.
2011-12 Campus/Community Service (15%): Part of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program in Hays, Kan… Helped with on-campus move in during the fall for incoming freshmen… Member of FHANS (Fort Hays Association of Nursing Students)… Assisted in the Meals on Wheels program in Hays, Kan… Assisted with Fort Hays State Football Camps in the summer of 2011.
Career Athletic, Academic and Service Accomplishments (15%): Four-year letterwinner for the FHSU football team… Recorded 333 tackles in his career which ranks third in NCAA history at Fort Hays State… Led the team in tackles in 2010 with 118 and 2011 with 164… Two-time All-MIAA selection at linebacker (2010-honorable mention, 2011 first team)… Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team selection (2010 and 2011)… Two-time recipient of the MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award…. CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-American in 2011… Member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Hays for four years, assisted in Meals on Wheels throughout his collegiate career, helped with incoming freshmen move-in for four years, was an active member of FHANS (Fort Hays Association of Nursing Students), assisted with FHSU Football Camps throughout his career, and was a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Fort Hays State Leadership Studies Association.
Other Men’s Nominees
Ravel Grey, Senior, Lincoln, Men’s Track & Field, Montego Bay, Jamaica
TJ Johnson, Senior, Missouri Western, Men’s Basketball, Pflugerville, Texas
Eric Love, Senior, Pittsburg State, Football, Cozad, Neb.
Devon Myers, Senior, Truman, Baseball, Fenton, Mo.
Calvin Patterson, Senior, Northwest Missouri, Men’s Tennis, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Other Women’s Nominees
Crista Bechard, Senior, Fort Hays State, Women’s Basketball, Holton, Kan.
Natalie Bird, Junior, Missouri Western, Women’s Golf, Carl Junction, Mo.
Michelle Cumberbatch, Junior, Lincoln, Women’s Track & Field, Nassau, Bahamas
Nicole Green, Senior, Missouri Southern, Women’s Track & Field, Carthage, Mo.
Heidi Smith, Senior, Pittsburg State, Women’s Track & Field, Elkhart, Kan.
Kate Walter, Senior, Northwest Missouri, Women’s Track & Field, Kansas City, Mo.
Jennifer Zweifel, Senior, Truman, Women’s Track & Field, Maryville, Mo
Fort Hays State assistant women’s basketball coach Carrie Hofstetter has accepted the position as head coach of the Hastings College women’s basketball program in Hastings, Neb. Hofstetter returns to her alma mater, where she was a member of three NAIA national championship teams, twice as a player and once as a coach. Hofstetter was an assistant at Fort Hays State for the past four years.
