The 2001-02 year marked the presentation of the inaugural Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Conference named changed to American Rivers Conference 2018-19 academic year)Â Scholar Athletes of the Year. One male student-athlete and one female student-athlete are chosen each fall for the previous academic year. The inaugural award announced in November 2001 was presented for the 2000-01 academic year.
To be eligible for nomination for the American Rivers Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year, a student-athlete must have demonstrated a high level of accomplishment and achievement in a varsity sport, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale), and show evidence of scholarly achievements, community service involvement and leadership.
Each American Rivers Conference institution can nominate one male and one female student-athlete. From the nominees submitted by the institutions, the Scholar-Athlete Recommendation Committee comprised of three Faculty Representatives and three Sports Information Directors, select a maximum of three male and three female finalists. The Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year are selected from among the finalists by a vote of the A-R-C Faculty Representatives.
Central's nominees for every season are listed below. The student-athletes in bold were named the conference winner.
Duane Schroeder Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
| Year |
Student-athlete |
Sports |
| 2023-24 |
Noah Jorgenson |
Cross Country, Track and Field |
| 2022-23 |
Lucas Heitz |
Track and field |
| 2021-22 |
Blaine Hawkins |
Football |
| 2020-21 |
William Isiminger |
Men's Tennis |
| 2019-20 |
Jon Alberts |
Football |
| 2018-19 |
Will Daniels |
Track and Field |
| 2017-18 |
Mark Fairley |
Cross Country, Track and Field |
| 2016-17 |
Riley Gray |
Football |
| 2015-16 |
Taylor Cox |
Football |
| 2014-15 |
Spencer Hammack |
Track and Field |
| 2013-14 |
Kyle Freischlag |
Tennis |
| 2012-13 |
none |
|
| 2011-12 |
none |
|
| 2010-11 |
none |
|
| 2009-10 |
Zach Van Arkel |
Football |
| 2008-09 |
none |
|
| 2007-08 |
Brett DeHoogh |
Basketball |
| 2006-07 |
Ben Bollard |
Football, Track and Field |
| 2005-06 |
Adam Duerfeldt |
Baseball |
| 2004-05 |
Mark Sanger |
Football, Track and Field |
| 2003-04 |
none |
|
| 2002-03 |
none |
|
| 2001-02 |
Tony Brownlee |
Track and Field |
| 2000-01 |
Steve Perkins |
Football |
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Johanna Olson Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year
| Year |
Student-athlete |
Sports |
| 2023-24 |
Megan Johnson |
Cross Country, Track and Field |
| 2022-23 |
Thea Lunning |
Golf, triathlon |
| 2021-22 |
Krissa Larson |
Volleyball, women's track and field |
| 2020-21 |
Sara Tallman |
Softball |
| 2019-20 |
Emily (Opsal) Wilson |
Golf |
| 2018-19 |
Mariah Fritz |
Softball |
| 2017-18 |
Tabitha Taylor |
Softball |
| 2016-17 |
Sydney Lunardi |
Soccer |
| 2015-16 |
none |
|
| 2014-15 |
Rachel Evans |
Basketball |
| 2013-14 |
none |
|
| 2012-13 |
Melony McDermott |
Cross Country, Track and Field |
| 2011-12 |
Sarah Paulson |
Basketball, Golf |
| 2010-11 |
Jill (Ziskovsky) Halcomb |
Track and Field |
| 2009-10 |
Rachelle Tipton |
Cross Country, Track and Field |
| 2008-09 |
Rachel Boeke |
Track and Field |
| 2007-08 |
none |
|
| 2006-07 |
Alicia Whisner |
Volleyball, Track and Field |
| 2005-06 |
Katie Pederson |
Volleyball, Track and Field |
| 2004-05 |
Jamie Stark |
Volleyball |
| 2003-04 |
Raegan (Schultz) Wagner |
Volleyball, Track and Field |
| 2002-03 |
Jennifer Hansen |
Track and Field |
| 2001-02 |
Angie Nielsen |
Volleyball |
| 2000-01 |
Angie Nielsen |
Volleyball |
