For Immediate Release
Friday, April 26, 2019
NSIC Media Relations
PDF Release
BURNSVILLE, Minn. — The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) announced Augustana University's
Kirby Hora as the 2019 Dr. William Britton Scholar-Athlete Award winner and Upper Iowa University's
Anna Winter as the 2019 Willis R. Kelly Scholar-Athlete Award recipient. The Britton Scholar-Athlete Award for Academic Excellence, in its 35th year, recognizes the NSIC's top male student-athlete and the Kelly Scholar-Athlete Award, in its 34th year, is presented to the NSIC's top female student-athlete.
The Britton Award was created in 1985 in honor of Dr. William Britton, a longtime faculty representative at Bemidji State University who served on the Athletic Board of Control of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference for 25 years. Britton retired from BSU in 1982 and passed away this past March.
The Kelly Award is named in honor of Willis R. Kelly, an associate professor of physical education at the University of Minnesota-Morris. A member of the NSIC Hall of Fame, Kelly also coordinated the Minnesota-Morris Physical Education Department from 1970-87. She became the first director of women's intercollegiate athletics at Minnesota-Morris in 1976 and was later promoted to athletics director for the whole department. Kelly passed away in 1988.
The member institutions of the NSIC nominate one male and one female student-athlete for the Britton and Kelly Awards. The nominees must meet the following criteria: a grade point average of 3.5 or better (on a 4.0 scale); evidence of academic excellence beyond the minimum grade point average (scholarship prizes and other academic recognition), evidence of participation in the life of the institution, and evidence of participation in at least two-thirds of the varsity events of the individual's primary sport. The award is voted on by the NSIC Faculty Athletic Representatives.
The 32 student-athletes nominated for the NSIC's two most prestigious awards will also be honored as NSIC Male and Female Honor Student-Athletes of the Year at their respective institutions. Hora and Winter will be recognized Tuesday, July 9 at the 2019 NSIC Hall of Fame Banquet at the Holiday Inn & Suites in Lakeville, Minnesota and will each receive a $3,000 post-graduate scholarship.
2019 Dr. William Britton Scholar-Athlete Award for Academic Excellence
Kirby Hora - Augustana University - Football
Kirby Hora, a native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota is a senior majoring in biology at Augustana University. The Roosevelt High School graduate holds a 4.00 GPA while excelling in football for the Vikings. Hora is the third student-athlete from Augustana University to earn the Britton Award joining Cody Lensing (2012) and Matt Braithwaite (2011).
Hora is an NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship recipient, First-Team Google Cloud Academic All-District and a three-time NSIC All-Academic team recipient. He has earned multiple scholarships, including the Dr. Jeffrey Behrens Sports Medicine Scholarship, the Mike Freidel Football Scholarship, the Y.T. Johnson Pre-Medicine Scholarship, the Sam Milanovich Scholarship, the Froiland First Year Biology Scholarship, the South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship and the Augustana University Academic Scholarship. He has also presented research at the Experimental Biology research conference in San Diego, California and at the South Dakota Symposium. Hora graduated in fall of 2018 and plans to attend medical school this fall.
On campus, Hora was a member of the Tri-Beat Biology National Honor Society and on the Dean's List member each of the past four years. He was the Student Athlete Advisory Committee President, was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Pre-Medicine Club, Biology Club, Tri-Beta Biology Club and Be The Match Club.
On the field, the middle linebacker recently finished one of the best careers in Viking history. Hora ended his career with 410 career tackles, ranking second all-time in Augustana program history. A four-time All-NSIC selection, Hora's career total of five forced fumbles sits tied for first in Augustana history. In 2015, Hora helped lead the Vikings to a share of the NSIC South division title.
Hora excelled outside the classroom and off the field as he volunteered with Ghosts of Christmas, Food Delivery, Habitat for Humanity, Necessities for Neighbors Distributor and Kids Against Hunger. He worked with the South Dakota Biomedical Research Infrastructure Network Research Fellowship, has been a Nursing Assistant in Sanford Health's radiology department and a Patient Care Technician in Sanford Health's operating rooms.
2019 Willis R. Kelly Scholar-Athlete Award for Academic Excellence
Anna Winter - Upper Iowa University - Volleyball
Anna Winter, a native of Rochester, Minnesota, is a mathematics, chemistry and biology triple major at Upper Iowa University. The Rochester Mayo High School graduate holds a 4.00 grade point average while excelling in volleyball for the Peacocks. Winter is the first Upper Iowa student-athlete to earn the Kelly Award.
Winter has been on the Athletics Director's Honor Roll every semester and is an NSIC All-Academic Team member. She has received multiple scholarships including the G.C. Baker Scholarship the Excellence in Mathematics Scholarship, the Excellence in Mathematics Scholarship and the Goebel Scholarship. The Baker, Goebel, and Excellence in Mathematics Scholarships are given to one recipient per year and are chosen by the science and mathematics faculty, who select the top student academically for each award.
Winter is an active participant on campus and in the community. She is a member of ENACTUS (campus student entrepreneurial group), a mentor for freshmen student-athletes through the Athlete Peer Educator Program, and a Tutor in mathematics, biology, and chemistry.
On the court, Winter is a two-time All-NSIC performer, earning first team honors this past season. In 2018 she had 404 kills for a 3.88 kill per set average while hitting .257 with only 89 errors. In her three year career, she has 880 kills in 84 matches to go with 323 digs and 107 blocks.
Winter was also accepted into the 2019 NASA Summer Training Program, a highly competitive program which accepts about 20 students nationally each year.
| 2018-19 NSIC Men's Honor Student-Athlete Award Winners |
| Name |
University |
Yr. |
Sport |
Hometown |
High School |
| Kirby Hora |
Augustana University |
Sr. |
Football |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
Roosevelt |
| Jared Henning |
Bemidji State University |
Sr. |
Football |
Jackson, Wis. |
Kettle Moraine Lutheran |
| Kelly Pierce |
Concordia University, St. Paul |
Sr. |
Football |
Gilbert, Iowa |
Gilbert |
| Tate Barnhardt |
University of Mary |
Sr. |
Wrestling |
Bismarck, N.D. |
St. Mary's Central |
| Chase Knickerbocker |
University of Minnesota Crookston |
Sr. |
Men's Basketball |
Annandale, Minn. |
Annandale |
| Kendall Hill |
University of Minnesota Duluth |
Jr. |
Track & Field |
Duluth, Minn. |
Duluth East |
| John Schuster |
Minnesota State University, Mankato |
Sr. |
Track and Field |
Wells, Minn. |
United South Central |
| Evan Carlson |
Minnesota State University Moorhead |
Sr. |
Track and Field |
Britton, S.D. |
Britton-Hecla |
| Michael Borst |
Minot State University |
Sr. |
Baseball |
McHenry, Illinois |
McHenry Community-West |
| Zachary Mohs |
Northern State University |
Jr. |
Football |
West Fargo, N.D. |
West Fargo |
| Gabriel Watson |
University of Sioux Falls |
Sr. |
Football |
Piedmont, Calif. |
Piedmont |
| Jonathan Dicke |
Southwest Minnesota State University |
Sr. |
Football |
Rochester, Minn. |
Century |
| Brindley Theisen |
St. Cloud State University |
Sr. |
Men's Basketball |
St. Cloud, Minn. |
St. Cloud Cathedral |
| Tanner Thompson |
Upper Iowa University |
Gr. |
Football |
Forest City, Iowa |
Forest City |
| Vance Janssen |
Wayne State College |
Sr. |
Men's Basketball |
Blair, Neb. |
Blair Community |
| Thomas Gajthe |
Winona State University |
Sr. |
Basketball |
Bloomington, Minn. |
Bloomington Jefferson |
| 2018-19 NSIC Women's Honor Student-Athlete Award Winners |
| Name |
University |
Yr. |
Sport |
Hometown |
High School |
| Leah Seivert |
Augustana University |
Sr. |
Cross Country |
Sibley, Iowa |
Sibley - Ocheyedan |
| Anna Fobbe |
Bemidji State University |
Sr. |
Women's Soccer |
St Paul, Minn. |
Cretin-Derham Hall |
| Madison Kunshier |
Concordia University, St. Paul |
Sr. |
Track & Field |
North Branch, Minn. |
North Branch Area |
| Cassie Askvig |
University of Mary |
Jr. |
Women's Basketball |
Minot, N.D. |
Minot |
| Caitlin Michaelis |
University of Minnesota Crookston |
Sr. |
Women's Basketball |
Marshfield, Wis. |
Marshfield |
| Makenzie Morgen |
University of Minnesota Duluth |
Sr. |
Volleyball |
Appleton, Wis. |
East |
| Maggie Knier |
Minnesota State University, Mankato |
Jr. |
Swimming & Diving |
Big Lake, Minn. |
Big Lake |
| Jacky Volkert |
Minnesota State University Moorhead |
Sr. |
Women's Basketball |
Arden Hills, Minn. |
Mounds View |
| Andrea Franco |
Minot State University |
Sr. |
Women's Soccer |
Long Beach, Calif, |
Robert A. Millikan |
| Maida Walters |
Northern State University |
Sr. |
Swimming & Diving |
Lewiston, Mont, |
Fergus l |
| Makenna Rockeman |
University of Sioux Falls |
Sr. |
Volleyball |
Broomfield, Colo. |
Legacy |
| Sara DeSmet |
Southwest Minnesota State University |
Sr. |
Softball |
Minneota, Minn. |
Minneota |
| Maria Witte |
St. Cloud State University |
Sr. |
Women's Soccer |
Batavia, Ill. |
Rosary |
| Anna Winter |
Upper Iowa University |
Jr. |
Volleyball |
Rochester, Minn. |
Mayo |
| Christina Stasi |
Wayne State College |
Sr. |
Women's Soccer |
Omaha, Neb. |
Millard North |
| Maria Wrage |
Winona State University |
Sr. |
Volleyball |
Dysart, Iowa |
Union |
| Annual Britton Award Recipients |
Annual Kelly Award Recipients |
| 2019 - Kirby Hora , Augustana |
2019 - Anna Winter, Upper Iowa |
| 2018 - Carter McCauley, Winona State |
2018 - Miranda Ristau, Northern State |
| 2017 - Joe Gomez, Northern State |
2017 - Sasha Hovind, Northern State |
| 2016 - Matt Horan, Sioux Falls |
2016 - Claire Sames, Southwest Minnesota State |
| 2015 - Kowan O'Keefe, Minot State |
2015 - Whitney Burmeister, Southwest Minnesota State |
| 2014 - William Brockmueller, Sioux Falls |
2014 - Rachel Patnoe, Southwest Minnesota State |
| 2013 - Alex Coulter, Winona State |
2013 - Elizabeth (Ellie) Duffy, Concordia-St. Paul |
| 2012 - Cody Lensing, Augustana |
2012 - Kendra Heuttl, Minnesota State |
| 2011 - Matt Braithwaite, Augustana |
2011 - Rebecca Anderson, Minnesota Duluth |
| 2010 - Marcus Greatens, Winona State |
2010 - Lauren Brown, Winona State |
| 2009 - Kirk Ingram, Concordia-St. Paul |
2009 - Mary Slinger, Concordia-St. Paul |
| 2008 - Tyler Fischer, Southwest Minnesota State |
2008 - Kallie Tellefsen, Winona State |
| 2007 - Tyler Fischer, Southwest Minnesota State |
2007 - Jessica Trautwein, MSU Moorhead |
| 2006 - Dusty Smith, Wayne State |
2006 - Kathryn Kramer, Winona State |
| 2005 - Brett Watson, Wayne State |
2005 - Lindsay Hartmann, MSU Moorhead |
| 2004 - Baron Blanchard, Northern State |
2004 - Kristin Peterson, Northern State |
| 2003 - Tucker Willard, Northern State |
2003 - Karen Darveaux, Winona State |
| 2002 - Steven Brandt, Minnesota Crookston |
2002 - Christy Kubat, Southwest State |
| 2001 - Mike May, Bemidji State |
2001 - Angela Swanson, Minnesota Crookston |
| 2000 - Adam Vossen, MSU Moorhead |
2000 - Abby Stritesky, Bemidji State |
| 1999 - Bart Johnson, MSU Moorhead |
1999 - Janelle Gibbs, Southwest State |
| 1998 - Stephen Blackmarr, Minnesota Duluth |
1998 - Betsy Pachal, Minnesota Duluth |
| 1997 - Jesse Beckermann, Minnesota Duluth |
1997 - Mollie Odell, Northern State |
| 1996 - Lance Luitjens, Northern State |
1996 - Paige Karno, Southwest State |
| 1995 - Nate Gruber, Winona State |
1995 - Katy Pivec, Southwest State |
| 1994 - Jeff Engbrecht, Winona State |
1994 - Amy Tenute, MSU Moorhead |
| 1993 - Jay Kusler, Northern State |
1993 - Amy Erickson, Minnesota Duluth |
| 1992 - Jeff Welder, MSU Moorhead |
1992 - Kristin Nelson, Minnesota Duluth |
| 1991 - Scott Colbeck, Minnesota-Morris |
1991 - Jayne Dusich, Bemidji State |
| 1990 - Dwight Hager, Bemidji State |
1990 - Mary Kortan, Northern State |
| 1989 - Bruce Saugstad, Southwest State |
1989 - Shauna Wendland, Southwest State |
| 1988 - Tom Aney, Minnesota Duluth |
1988 - Tara Haiskanen, Minnesota Duluth |
| 1987 - Dale Harper, Bemidji State |
1987 - Teresa Greenwood, MSU Moorhead & Patricia Pioske, Southwest State |
| 1986 - Jeff Kretchman, Northern State |
1986 - Lisa Muehlbauer, Minnesota Duluth |
| 1985 - James Scott Bestul, Winona State |
|
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