Nielsen named as finalist for Jostens Trophy
INDIANOLA, Iowa – Simpson's Kate Nielsen has been named as a finalist for the prestigious Jostens Trophy, as announced by members of the Rotary Club of Salem, Va. on Monday.
The Jostens Trophy is awarded annually to an outstanding Division III men's and women's basketball player who excels on the floor, in the classroom and in the community. Nielsen is the third finalist in Simpson's history, joining Michelle Stover (2001) and Katelyn Whiton (2008).
The Salem Rotary Club Jostens Committee is responsible for the initial review of annual nominations and employs a numerical rating to narrow the list of finalists so that the decision can be made on the most objective basis possible.
A forward from Urbandale, Iowa, Nielsen earned Iowa Conference Most Valuable Player honors after leading the Storm to a sixth-consecutive Iowa Conference Championship. She was a seven-time IIAC Player of the Week and became the sixth player in program history to amass 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in a career.
An exercise science major with a 3.89 cumulative GPA, Nielsen took home Capital One Academic All-America ® First Team honors in February and is a two-time Capital One Academic All-District ® First Team honoree.
Nielsen and the No. 10 Storm have won a school-record tying 27 games in 2012-13, are 27-2 on the year and headed to the third round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship to face UW-Whitewater this Friday, March 8 in Whitewater, Wis.
Voters' ballots are due by March 13 with the winning schools expected to be notified by March 15. The awards presentation is scheduled for Thursday, March 21 at the Salem Civic Center in conjunction with the Men's Division III quarterfinals and semifinals being hosted in Salem, Va., on March 22-23.
More about the Award
The Jostens Trophy is a national award created by the Rotary Club of Salem, Va., to honor the most outstanding men's 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 International motto of "Service Above Self" by recognizing those who truly fit the ideal of the well-rounded Division III student-athlete. This year's class marks the 16th year the award has been presented.
