January 20, 2004
(Release courtesy of Matt Turk, SID, Simpson College)

INDIANOLA, IOWA . . . Former Simpson men's basketball player Jesse Harris (1999-2003, Clive, Iowa, Valley H.S.) has been selected as one of six winners of the Woody Hayes National Scholar-Athlete Award. These awards are presented to the outstanding male and female scholar-athlete in each of the three collegiate divisions. A panel of judges selects the winners. The University and Northwest Sertoma Club, by honoring these six scholar-athletes seeks to establish a perpetual living memorial to for Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes, with these awards being presented annually.

All net proceeds from the banquet will be distributed to a Hayes family designated charity and to Sertoma charities, which include local and national speech and hearing disability programs, cancer research programs, for autistic children and children with learning disabilities.

The Woody Hayes Scholar-Athlete awards will be presented on Friday, Feb. 6 at the Villa Milano Restaurant, 1630 Schrock Road in Columbus, Ohio.

The 2003 IIAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Harris was awarded one of 58 2003 NCAA postgraduate scholarships of $6,900 (29 men and 29 women) who participated in winter sports (men's and women's basketball, fencing, men's and women's gymnastics, men's and women's ice hockey, rifle, skiing, men's and women's swimming and diving, men's and women's indoor track and field and wrestling). Harris joined John Hines (1980) and David Otte (1995) as Simpson men's basketball players to be awarded an NCAA postgraduate scholarship.

Harris was named DIII News honorable mention All-American in April 2003. A two-time finalist for the Josten's Trophy, emblematic of the Division III Player of the Year, Harris finished his Storm career fifth in career scoring with 1,573 points. Harris was selected first team All-Conference as a sophomore, junior, and as a senior. He was named second team All-Conference as a freshman.

Harris is a two-time first team CoSIDA Academic All-America® selection. Harris carried a 3.967 grade point average in his double majors of history and political science. Harris was named CoSIDA Academic All-Region VII three times. The 2002-03 DIII News preseason IIAC Player of the Year. Harris averaged 13.3 points and 7.3 rebounds as a senior.

Harris works for the John Edwards for President Campaign. He plans on beginning his graduate studies in the Fall of 2004.

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