College Sporting News is proud to announce the finalists for the annual Senior Student-Athlete of the Year Awards for senior student-athletes who compete in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Below are the finalists for 2006-2007, chosen from nominees submitted by MIAC member schools.
FEMALE
Carrie Embree, University of St. Thomas (Waukee, IA) —
(Physical Education, 3.51 GPA, Softball/Volleyball)
Embree was a 2006 Academic All-American; 2006 All-American; NFCA’s 2006 Adidas Division III Golden Spikes Award (top baserunner), 2006 All-MIAC, 2006 All-Region, played on 2005 and 2004 NCAA champion teams and 2006 NCAA runner-up team, and has a chance to play on four MIAC champion volleyball teams. She has started 126 of the Toms’ last 127 softball games since 2005.
Embree has 17 hits and a .500 batting average in 12 career NCAA playoff games. Embree has 102 steals on her career — seven off the MIAC record. In pitching, since losing her first game March 9, Embree is 7-0 with 52 strikeouts and six walks and an 0.00 ERA in 44 1-3 innings. Embree led the
team in 2005 as she hit .433 with 55 hits and 34 RBI. Embree has contributed to the school and community through the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Tutor Mentor Program, Food for Homeless Families, Teacher Aid with Special Need Students, High School Softball coach, Toys for Tots, Toys for Teens, Open Arms, and swim lessons to 7th graders among others.
Hailey Harren, Gustavus Adolphus College (Cold Spring, MN) — (Political
Science/International Management, 3.80 GPA, Cross Country/Track and Field)
The #1 Cross Country runner, Harren was the 2006 MIAC Individual Champion, 2006 NCAA Central Region Champion, 2006 Finished 8th at NCAA Championships, and First Team USTFCCCA All-America. She was also the 2005 NCAA Individual Champion, a two-time USTFCCCA First Team All-America, 2005 Honda Div. III Runner of the Year, Two-time NCAA Central Region Champion, Two-time MIAC Individual Champion, 2005 and 2006 MIAC Runner of the Year, 2005 and 2006 Central Region Runner of the Year. Harren was also 2005-06 Gustavus Female Student Athlete of the Year , NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Winner, 2005-06 CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team, Three-time MIAC Scholar Athlete, and 2005 and 2006 USTFCCCA All-America Scholar Athlete. A volunteer tutor for St. Peter Elementary School, Harren served as a volunteer court reporter for Anna Marie Women’s
Shelter and volunteered two days a week at local nursing homes.
Kaela Schra m, Macalester College (St. Paul, MN) — (History, 3.61 GPA,
Track and Field)
Schramm is the MIAC and Macalester Indoor 55-meter hurdle record-holder and also in the Macalester top three in 55-meter dash, long jump & triple jump, ranked second on Macalester all-time outdoor honor roll in 100-meter hurdles and triple jump, and 3rd in 100-meter dash and long jump. Schramm placed 4th at 2007 NCAA indoor meet in 55-meter hurdles. Schramm was the MIAC indoor champ in 2007 in 55-meter hurdles and 55-meter dash, MIAC indoor champ 2006 in the triple jump, MIAC outdoor champ ’05 in 100-meter hurdles, 2007 MIAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Meet, All-America indoor track 2007, Eight-time All-MIAC individual award winner. Schramm collected honors as
Macalester Senior Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Academic All-MIAC honor roll, Gamma Theta Upsilon (national Geography honor society). Schramm served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, a Habitat For Humanity volunteer, a volunteer at Minnesota state geography bee, and a volunteer at Expo Elementary School with the after-school 4th grade program.
Amanda Weinmann. Saint Mary’s University (Rochester, MN) —
(Biophysics/Engineering Physics, 3.986 GPA, Indoor & Outdoor Track andField)
An outstanding shot putter and weight/hammer thrower, Weinmann was the 2006 and 2007 NCAA Shot Put All American finishing 8th, 11th in 2006 NCAA Championships, 2007 MIAC Weight Throw Champion and Shot Put Runner Up, 2006 MIAC Weight Throw and Shot Put Runner Up, 7 time All MIAC Selection, was the First MIAC Student-Athlete to be honored 3 weeks in a row. Weinmann was
also Saint Mary’s University Outstanding Female Scholar Athlete, 3 time USTFCCCA All Academic Team Selection, National Merit Finalist, 4 time Frederick Gardner Cottrell Ethical Leadership Scholarship in Scientific Research, 4 time Mayo Foundation Scholarship, 4 time Saint Thomas More Scholarship Recipient (Saint Mary’s most prestigious academic student award), 2 time Medtronic Foundation Scholarship, and Max E. McGrath-Tomorrow’s Leaders Scholarship. Weinmann performed service at
Starry Nights as Physics and Astronomy Club president, Gifts for Winona during Christmas time, and Rivertown Shuffle annual cancer walk put on by the AmericanCancer Society.
MALE
Kirby Carr, Bethel University (Fergus Falls, MN) —
(Biology, 3.51 GPA, Football/Baseball)
While Kirby has numerous football and baseball accolades, it is his humble character and excellence in other areas that stick out. He is an honor student and has been awarded the prestigious Edgren and Academic/Faculty Scholarships for the past four years. He regularly is on the dean’s list for
academic achievement and has been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District first team in football and baseball. This past season he was also a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy (Academic Heisman), a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy (Division III Football player of the year) and the MIAC’s Football MVP. Kirby has been a leader in numerous student service activities including Young Life, Athletes in Action and volunteer service in a homeless shelter. He has also worked on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and as a youth baseball instructor and coach.
Andrew Gastineau, St. Olaf College (Rochester, MN) —
(Physics/Mathematics, 3.85 GPA, Soccer/Hockey/Track and Field)
Gastineau was a starter every season, which included a shared MIAC title in 2004 in his soccer career with the Oles. Gastineau was All-Conference three years, senior captain and was named to the first annual All-Sportsmanship team as a senior. Gastineau was also named Academic All-Conference in 2005 and 2006. In his four-year hockey career, Gastineau was a four-year letter winner and starter on defense and helped lead the Oles to their first MIAC Playoff Championship in 2006. Gastineau was also named Academic All-Conference in the winter of 2006 and 2007. Gastineau was a four-year
participant and letter winner in Outdoor Track and Field as a sprinter. He was named MIAC Outstanding Athlete in 2004. Gastineau has secured a place on the Dean’s List every semester since he transferred from Air Force Academy in 2003, where he was also named to the Dean’s List. Gastineau was named National Merit Commended Student 2002-2007, Buntrock Presidential
Scholarship recipient 2003-2007, James Munson Scholarship recipient for physics and mathematics 2004-2007, St. Olaf Scholarship recipient 2003-2007 and Mayo Foundation Scholarship recipient 2003-2007. In the spring of 2003, Gastineau volunteered as a track coach at Rochester Mayo High School, served on St. Olaf’s Volunteer Student Panel in 2004 and currently tutors math at
Hastings High School.
Jamie Steffensmeier, Saint John’s University (Mankato, MN) —
(Accounting, 3.867 GPA, Football)
Steffensmeier was a three-time All-MIAC first team selection at linebacker (2003, 2004 and 2006). Led the 2003 National Champion Johnnies with 121 tackles in his first year at SJU as a sophomore and in 2006 with 94 tackles. Steffensmeier was a 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division First Team selection, 2006 Draddy Trophy semifinalist, two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American Second Team selection (2003, 2004) and Academic All-MIAC in 2003, 2004 and 2006. A member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), Steffensmeier volunteers with
various children’s programs in the surrounding area. Steffensmeier will be commissioned as a Supply Officer in the U.S. Navy following graduation this May.
ADDITIONAL NOMINEES:
MALE
Jacob Helling, Hamline University
Dylan Keith, Macalester College
Tony Konicek, Gustavus Adolphus College
Andrew Longbella, Saint John’s University
Kevin McNamara, Saint John’s University
Andrew Neumann, Augsburg College
Isaac Rosefelt, University of St. Thomas
Tyler Schultz, Hamline University
FEMALE
Emily Anderson, Augsburg College
Rachelle Dosch, University of St. Thomas
Monica Eiden, College of St. Benedict
Dana Luiken, Hamline University
Sheri Netlund, Bethel University
Andrea Peterson, Gustavus Adolphus College
Kelsey Watt, St. Olaf College
Laura Zwach, College of St. Benedict
A Selection Committee, comprised of former MIAC student-athletes, administrators and coaches will make the final honoree determination, to be announced next week.
The “CSN SSAA” is awarded to one male and one female senior student-athlete who personify what the MIAC and Division III represent: academic excellence, outstanding athletic performance and a commitment to community service.
Criteria for the awards are as follows: