The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced that Trevor Holleman of the University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) and Dani Hoagland of Concordia (Neb.) University are the 2009 recipients of the prestigious A.O. Duer Award on Friday. The award is presented annually to a junior male and female student-athlete in any sport who has excelled in character, playing ability and scholarship. Since 1967, the A.O. Duer Award has been presented in honor of the late former NAIA executive director Al Duer who was responsible for the NAIA's role as the first collegiate organization to be fully integrated.
"The NAIA is honored to recognize two exceptional student-athletes with the A.O. Duer Award," said Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO. "Trevor and Dani are leaders and tremendous examples of more than 45,000 young men and women participating under the NAIA banner. I applaud Trevor and Dani for their commitment to high standards and to the principle that participation in athletics serves as an integral part of the total education process. Student-athletes are successful because of dedicated coaches, administrators and professors. Congratulations to Trevor, Dani and the athletic programs they represent on this momentous honor."

Holleman and Hoagland were selected by the NAIA Council of Faculty Athletics Representatives from a field of nominees who attend NAIA member institutions. Candidates must achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale. The University of Sioux Falls and Concordia will receive a $1,000 scholarship award from Daktronics in the name of the winner.

Tagged the Cougars Most Valuable Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, Holleman is a versatile and explosive athlete and was a featured centerpiece in game plans throughout the championship football season. Leading the No. 1 ranked defensive unit, the All-American has been a key fixture in the Sioux Falls football dynasty. The program has won thee national championships, taking the title two of the last three years. As significant as his stats, Holleman is a proven leader. He was named team captain as a junior and will hold that title going into his senior year.

"My job as athletics director of the University is to identify students who not only excel on the playing fields, but who have excelled in the classroom and who have developed leadership qualities," said William Sanchez, Jr. Director of Athletics, University of Sioux Falls. "Undoubtedly, Trevor has exemplified excellence in all three categories. His positive actions, both on and off the field, have already left a legacy that will give student-athletes who know or who have heard him something to admire and emulate."

Holleman's character on the field carries over to the classroom. As a biology major, he has taken an impressively difficult course load and plans to pursue a career in health care or dentistry following graduation.

Upon completion of the Biomedical Research Summer Fellowship Program (summer 2008), Holleman, along with a classmate, submitted a research abstract for presentation at the National American Society of Clinical Laboratory Science meeting in Washington, D.C. Their work was accepted, and Holleman traveled to Washington, D.C., where he displayed their project among hundreds of undergraduates, graduate students and faculty from around the country.

Hoagland is a middle blocker for the Concordia Bulldogs volleyball team. Upon Hoagland's arrival at Concordia, she was already willing to sacrifice personal comfort for the betterment of the team by playing a position that she was not accustomed to on the court. Transitioning from middle blocker to right side hitter is a difficult change but with her athleticism and willingness to lead, she accepted the challenge and was a starter in her first collegiate season. In the subsequent years, she returned to her traditional position and has received numerous awards and accolades, including selection by her teammates as a captain in her junior year. Other awards include team Most Valuable Player, All-Tournament Team selection at the St. Ambrose Fall Classic and a repeat Booster Club Athlete of the Week. Success has followed her on the conference level. She was at the top of the team leader board in nearly every offensive category and received All-Conference honors in 2007 and 2008.

"Dani's teammates realize that she strives to lead by example and that she will work hard in every aspect of life," said Rachel Miller, head volleyball coach at Concordia. "They showed this respect by naming her the Bulldog Award winner, which is given to the player who gives 100% in practices, workouts and everything that involves Concordia volleyball. She is an integral part of our team's success and an absolute joy to coach."

Off the court Hoagland has collected many academic awards for her outstanding performance in the classroom. Among these are the Pflieger-Olson Scholar-Athlete Award, NAIA Scholar-Athlete Award and was a 2008-09 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District selection. Majoring in biology, she maintains a rigorous class load, works on campus in the science building and shadows the team physician in the Seward Memorial Clinic. She is studying for the MCAT and plans to go onto become a physician.

Both Holleman and Hoagland represent the ideals of the NAIA scholar-athlete as evidenced by their scholarship, character, citizenship and athletic ability. To learn more about the NAIA and other national and sport specific awards visit http://www.naia.org/.