December 11, 2002

MOUNT VERNON, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that former Wartburg College basketball player and track and field performer Brianne Schoonover (Fredericksburg, Iowa/Fredericksburg HS) has been named the Duane Schroeder IIAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year for the 2001-02 academic year.

“Brianne is a tremendous athlete who represents every individual characteristic that the Iowa Conference attempts to foster. Her commitment to excellence in every facet of her life, combined with an extraordinary record of service to others, places her in an elite category of people with whom anyone would be proud to be associated,” IIAC Commissioner John Cochrane said. “Brianne is a shining example of all that is good in intercollegiate athletics. The Iowa Conference not only congratulates Brianne for her many accomplishments, but perhaps most importantly, holds her up as a role model for young people to emulate her level of passion for achievement and desire to better the lives of those around her.”

Schoonover graduated Summa Cum Laude in May 2002 with a 3.9638 grade point average as an Accounting and Business Administration double major. She earned Dean’s List honors each of her eight collegiate semesters, was named Outstanding Senior Accounting Student and was presented the 2002 Chellevold Award, given to Wartburg’s outstanding student-athlete based on academic and athletic achievement. Schoonover passed the CPA exam on her first attempt in May and is currently employed by Ernst & Young, LLP in Des Moines, Iowa.

“I’ve had the good fortune to have Brianne in both my business communication and human resource management courses where she was one of the top-five students I’ve seen during my 23-years at Wartburg. She’s one of the best speakers I’ve seen and uses technology to its fullest to support her presentations,” Department of Business Administration and Economics Chairperson Gloria Campbell said. “Even though she was often hands above other students in her skills, she had the good grace to help them along rather than bask in complacency.

“Perhaps most impressive about Brianne was her track performance last spring. Most students are literally wiped out after the grueling three-day CPA exams. Yet Brianne bounced back within hours to place first twice individually and twice in relays, plus place high in a fifth event at the Conference meet. That’s like winning four events after running a marathon,” Campbell continued.

Schoonover served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), serving as secretary during the 2001-02 academic year; was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was a member of Phi Beta Lambda, serving two years as Vice President of Fund Raising. She volunteered with the Special Olympics, volunteered at a local elementary school’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day events, served as a Confirmation Retreat Leader, served on the Faculty Athletics Committee and as co-chair of the Senior Class Challenge. She was a member of the Hall Council and Wartburg Ambassadors, and was part of the Adopt-A-Highway project.

“When I think of NCAA Division III student-athletes I think of balance between academics and athletics. Brianne exemplified this balance to the highest level,” Wartburg Women’s Basketball Coach Monica Severson said. “Even with her busy schedule of athletics and academics she still found time to help others on campus and in our community. By volunteering for many activities that helped others, Brianne gave of herself and showed the values that she lives her life by.”

Schoonover was seven-time All-American in track and field including a two-time All-American in the 400-meter dash, 400-meter relay and 1600-meter relay. She was a seven-time champion at the Drake Relays, earned 11 Conference titles and was named IIAC Most Valuable Performer in 2002. A four-year track letterwinner and two-year captain, Schoonover owns the school record in the 400-meter dash and was a member of the school record holding 400-meter relay, 1600-meter relay and the sprint medley teams.

In basketball, Schoonover was a three-time All-Conference performer including a two-time First Team member. She is sixth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,314 career points and was a four-year winner of the Hustle and Spirit Team Award. She was named team co-MVP in 2000 and was a D-3Hoops All-Region selection as a senior. In 2001 she was presented the Hertel Award, given to Wartburg’s outstanding two-sport athlete.

Schoonover was named Verizon Academic All-America® four times including twice in basketball (2000 and 2001) and twice in track (2001 Second Team, 2002 First Team). She was a Verizon Academic All-District selection five times and a four-time member of the Iowa Conference All-Academic Team. She was named to the United States Track Coaches Association All-Academic Team in 2001.

The Duane Schroeder IIAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year Award was first presented in December 2001 for the 2000-01 academic year. To be eligible for nomination, a student-athlete shall have graduated or exhausted their athletic eligibility during the academic year for which the award is given. She must have demonstrated a high level of accomplishment and achievement in a varsity sport, have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale), and show evidence of scholarly achievements, community service involvement and leadership (either on campus or in the community).

At the May 2002 annual meeting of the Iowa Conference Management Council, Commissioner John Cochrane announced that the IIAC Scholar Athlete of the Year awards would be renamed the Duane Schroeder Scholar Athlete of the Year in honor of former Wartburg College sports information director Duane Schroeder. Schroeder served as Wartburg’s SID for 43 years until his retirement in 2000. Upon his retirement from his sports information duties, he was named SID Emeritus and served as Wartburg’s News Director until 2001. During much of his four decades at Wartburg, Schroeder served as the IIAC’s secretary and treasurer.

Also nominated for the Duane Schroeder IIAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award was former Central College volleyball player Angie Nielsen (Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny HS), former Cornell College tennis player Christy Hamilton (Maquoketa, Iowa/Maquoketa HS) and former Loras College track and field performer Sara Nauman (Dubuque, Iowa/Senior HS).

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