December 10, 2007

CEDAR RAPIDS , IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that former Loras College track and field performer Abby Erion (Decorah, Iowa/Decorah) has been named the Duane Schroeder IIAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year for the 2006-07 academic year.

“When reviewing the amazing accomplishments of these two outstanding individuals, one has an overriding sense of respect and humility for all that Abby and Adam [Bohach of Luther College] have achieved at such a young age," Iowa Conference Commissioner John T. Cochrane said. "They have an understanding of the value of commitment to success and service to others to which most of us can only aspire, and serve as ambassadors for everything that Iowa Conference institutions are trying to facilitate and instill in the young women and men participating in our athletic programs. I congratulate them for being selected by our Faculty Athletic Representatives for the highest honor that the Conference can bestow and thank them for allowing us to be a part of their lives for the past four years.”

Erion graduated Maxima Cum Laude in May 2007 with a 3.966 grade point average as a sports science major with a mathematics minor. She was named to the Dean's List every semester at Loras and was a two-time winner of the Al Schramm Award as Loras College's Student-Athlete of the Year. Erion was also a three-time Iowa Conference All-Academic Team member, a CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team selection in 2006, and received Division III All-Academic Team honors from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in 2006 and 2007. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Iowa.

“Abby was an exceptional student. She is a very bright, pleasant, energetic individual and has a personable, easy-going personality that makes anyone she meets feel comfortable. In the classroom, Abby learned material at the level it was taught but always had more questions about the details of many processes. She has great quantitative skills and a huge potential for learning more," Loras Professor of Biology Dr. Tom Davis said. "She presented excellent statistical analyses of her lab research projects -- detailed reports that went beyond what was expected. She had great ideas about how to solve problems as her team designed and collected data. She had an excellent academic record here at Loras College."

Erion served as president of the Loras Chapter of Delta Epsilon Sigma (DES), a national scholastic honor society, and was a recipient of the DES National Student Award. She also served as treasurer of the Loras Physical Education and Sports Studies Team. In addition, she volunteered her time in the Physical Therapy Department at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah and as a counselor at Camp Courageous of Iowa. At Camp Courageous, she worked with mentally and physically handicapped people of all ages on a daily basis in all aspects of their personal, physical and recreation needs. Also a volunteer at the Loras All-Sports Camp, Erion assisted with the Illinois Winter Special Olympics and helped to organize the ARC Buddy Walk in 2006 and 2007.

"In my fifteen years of coaching, she is one of the finest people I have had the privilege to work with and is a coach's dream. She is the total package," said Loras track and field coach Bob Schultz. "[Despite not being] a remarkable track athlete in high school, she became a great track and field athlete [at Loras] because of her tremendous work ethic and a very high level of commitment to everything she is involved in. Another reflection of her tremendous character is that she was voted to be a captain twice by her teammates. She did an outstanding job of leading our team to successful seasons. Clearly, Abby is an over-achiever and is a tremendous success in all of her endeavors."

The 2006 and 2007 Iowa Conference Outdoor Track and Field MVP, Erion captured six IIAC meet titles and earned All-Conference honors 22 times during her career competing primarily in the long jump, triple jump, and heptathlon. She was also a three-time NCAA Outdoor Championship participant, placing ninth in Division III in the heptathlon in 2006 to miss All-America honors by one spot. Erion served as a captain of the Duhawk track and field team her final two seasons and was named the team's Most Valuable Track Athlete in 2006.

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.

The Duane Schroeder IIAC Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards are named in honor of the late Duane Schroeder, former sports information director at Wartburg College. 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 2006-07 Duane Schroeder IIAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year were former Central College volleyball player and track and field performer Alicia Whisner, former Coe College softball player Rachel Brinkman, former Luther College basketball and softball player Christina Gaard, former Simpson College volleyball player Tiffany Everding and former Wartburg College softball player Stephanie Howe.

Previous recipients of the Duane Schroeder IIAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year include Johanna Olson (2000-01, Luther College track and cross country), Brianne Schoonover (2001-02, Wartburg College basketball and track), Jessica Jensen (2002-03, Buena Vista University basketball and track), Raegan (Schultz) Wagner (2003-04, Central College volleyball and track), Amy Ernst (2004-05, Coe College softball), and Katie Pederson (2005-06, Central College volleyball and track).

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