Fort Hays State senior linebacker Alex Whitehill is one of three male finalists for the MIAA's Ken B. Jones Award, a yearly award given to one male and one female for their athletic, academic, and service accomplishments for the current school year and the body of work throughout their collegiate career. The winner of the award will be announced at the annual MIAA Awards Dinner, which is set for June 7 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown in Kansas City, Mo. Whitehill is the first-ever finalist from Fort Hays State for this honor since FHSU joined the conference in 2006-07.
The award, which is in its 19th year, is named in honor of the man who served as the MIAA's first full-time commissioner for 16 years. Jones retired in 1997 and passed away in May 2004. He was inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame in the inaugural Class of 2010. The finalists are invited to the annual MIAA Awards Dinner.
A 12-member panel of athletics directors, senior woman administrators, faculty athletics representatives and sports information directors – including a representative from each member institution – selects the finalists.
Each nominee is judged in four areas: 2011-12 Athletics Accomplishments; 2011-12 Academic Accomplishments; 2011-12 Campus/Community Service; and Career Athletics, Academics and Service Achievements.
To be nominated, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.00 cumulative grade-point average as of April 1, and must have completed at least their junior season of eligibility in the 2011-12 academic year.
The other male finalists include Shawn Boss, track and field athlete from Central Missouri, and Ryan Dougherty, men's basketball player from Southwest Baptist.
Female finalists include Lindsay Lettow, track and field athlete from Central Missouri, Katie Mona, track and field athlete from Emporia State, and Molly Lacy, volleyball player from Washburn.
Below are the accomplishments of the three male finalists...
Men's Finalists
Alex Whitehill
Fort Hays State
Football
6-3, 220, Sr., McPherson, Kan.
Major(s): Nursing
Cumulative GPA: 3.54
2011-12 Athletic Accomplishments:
-Daktronics First Team All-American, Beyond College Sports Network Second Team All-American, Don Hansen Third Team All-American, and D2Football.com All-American Honorable Mention at linebacker.
-Daktronics and Don Hansen All-Super Region 4 First Team selection at linebacker.
-All-MIAA First Team selection at linebacker.
-Led NCAA Division II in tackles with 164 and set new FHSU records for total tackles and assisted tackles in a single season.
-Broke the NCAA Division II record for most assisted tackles in a season with 106, breaking the old mark of 105 set by Brian Holliday of Fayetteville State in 2002.
-Recorded at least 10 tackles in 9 of 11 games in 2011 and never had less than 7 in a game.
-Recorded at least 20 tackles in 3 games.
-Named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week on November 14, 2011 for his school and NCAA record setting efforts in the final game of the season.
2011-12 Academic Accomplishments:
-2011 CoSIDA/Capital One First Team Academic All-American.
-One of just six linebackers in NCAA Division II to earn Academic All-American honors in 2011.
-CoSIDA/Capital One First Team Academic All-District honors in 2011.
-Became the 11th Academic All-American selection for FHSU in football all-time.
-Will earn the MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award in the summer of 2012 and earned the same honor last year.
2011-12 Campus/Community Service:
-Part of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program in Hays, Kan.
-Helped with on-campus move in during the fall for incoming freshmen.
-Member of FHANS (Fort Hays Association of Nursing Students).
-Assisted in the Meals on Wheels program in Hays, Kan.
-Assisted with Fort Hays State Football Camps in the summer of 2011.
Career Athletic, Academic and Service Accomplishments:
-Four-year letterwinner for the FHSU football team.
-Recorded 333 tackles in his career which ranks third in NCAA history at Fort Hays State.
-Led the team in tackles in 2010 with 118 and 2011 with 164.
-Two-time All-MIAA selection at linebacker (2010-honorable mention, 2011 first team).
-Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team selection (2010 and 2011).
-Two-time recipient of the MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award.
-CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-American in 2011.
-Member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Hays for four years, assisted in Meals on Wheels throughout his collegiate career, helped with incoming freshmen move-in for four years, was an active member of FHANS (Fort Hays Association of Nursing Students), assisted with FHSU Football Camps throughout his career, and was a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and Fort Hays State Leadership Studies Association.
Shawn Boss
Central Missouri
Men's Track & Field
6-2, 175, Sr., Oak Grove, Mo.
Major(s): Computer Information Systems with minor in Management
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
2011-12 Athletic Accomplishments:
Vernon Kennedy Award winner as Central Missouri's top Male Senior Student-Athlete...National Runner-Up in the heptathlon...2nd in heptathlon at MIAA Indoor Championships...3rd in decathlon at MIAA Outdoor Championships...has provisionally qualified for outdoor championships...Two All-MIAA performances this year (heptathlon and decathlon).
2011-12 Academic Accomplishments:
4.0 GPA in computer information systems with a minor in management ... Elite 89 Award winner at NCAA-II Indoor Track & Field Championships; award given to competing athlete with highest overall GPA at the championships ... NCAA Track & Field Academic All-American ... UCM Dean's List ... Two-time winner of Fall KCP&L Programming competition ... CIS Outstanding Achievement Award ... Integrative Business Experience Company President ... Honor's College at UCM ... Association of Information Technology Professionals ... Delta Sigma Pi Professional fraternity ... National Society of Collegiate Scholars.
2011-12 Campus/Community Service:
Helped raise money for Gabi Schull, a young cancer patient in Warrensburg community, as her family was in need of assistance in a tough time. Shawn helped coordinate with Delta Sigma Pi to raise funds to aid the family...member of Delta Sigma Pi Adopt-a-highway cleanup along Highway 50 in and around Warrensburg for last three years...participated in canned food drives to support Harvesters and the Warrensburg Food Pantry.
Career Athletic, Academic and Service Accomplishments:
Athletic: Vernon Kennedy Award winner as top UCM Male Senior Student-Athlete...three-time All-American in Heptathlon, 2010-2012...National Heptathlon Runner-Up at 2012 Indoor Championships, also placed 3rd in 2011 and 6th in 2010...Decathlon National Qualifier in 2011 and has provisionally qualified for 2012 championships...helped the Mules to seven MIAA Track & Field Championships out of a possible eight (4 indoor and 3 outdoor titles)...integral part of two 4th place team finishes at NCAA Indoor Championships (2010 and 2011) and 6th place finish in 2012...9 All-MIAA performances during his career.
Academic: Two-time NCAA Elite 89 Award winner at NCAA Indoor Championships, award is given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA competing at the championships...CoSIDA 1st Team Academic All-American in 2010-11 (2012 still to be decided later in May), 3rd Team Academic All-American in 2009-10...4-time NCAA Track & Field Academic All-American...Earned Bright Flight Scholarship in Missouri with ACT of 31 or higher...awarded UCM Red & Black scholarship for academic achievement...UCM Dean's List every semester...HCBA Honor Roll all four years...three-time winner of KCP&L Programming competition...three times named CIS Outstanding Student Achievement Award winner...IBE (Integrative Business Experience) Company President...participated in canned food drive for Warrensburg Food Pantry (2010)...volunteered to be support staff on course for Warrensburg 5k in 2010...Mule Haul participant, helping other students move into their dorm rooms, unloading furniture and belongings on move in day (2011).
Ryan Dougherty
Southwest Baptist
Men's Basketball
5-11, 180, Sr., Fort Worth, Texas
Major(s): Biology (Pre-Physical Therapy)
Cumulative GPA: 3.622
2011-12 Athletic Accomplishments:
Ryan Dougherty had a record setting season in 2011-12 earning All-MIAA First Team and All-MIAA Defensive Team honors. Dougherty was also named to the 2012 NABC All-South Central Second Team. This season Dougherty ranked in the top five in the MIAA for points (4th, 16.4 ppg), field goal percentage (5th, 47.3%), 3 point field goals made (4th, 2.6 per game), assist to turnover ratio (3rd, 2.1), and minutes played (1st, 34.7 minutes per game).
2011-12 Academic Accomplishments:
Ryan Dougherty was named to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-American First Team after being named to the Academic All-District First Team earlier in the year. When the MIAA Academic Awards are released later this summer, Ryan will have earned the Scholar-Athlete Award (3.5 cumulative GPA plus All-MIAA Honors) and will also be named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll. Ryan maintained an excellent 3.622 GPA while pursuing his degree in Biology (Pre-Physical Therapy). He will graduate this May and has been accepted into SBU's PT program and will start next fall.
2011-12 Campus/Community Service:
Ryan Dougherty has stayed very active within the campus and community during his entire four-year career at SBU. In this past year alone Ryan has been an active member of SAAC (Student Athletic Advisory Committee) to help athletes receive a voice within the University and has also volunteered two separate times in Special Olympics events held on the SBU campus, once during the fall of 2011 and once during the winter of 2012. Ryan has spent multiple days volunteering at different retirement homes in Bolivar, helping clean up litter around the home and entertaining and spending time with their residents.
Career Athletic, Academic and Service Accomplishments:
Ryan Dougherty has helped re-write the record books at SBU, joining the prestigious 1,000 point club this season. Ryan broke SBU career school records for 3 point baskets made (218), games played (119), and minutes played (3,133). Ryan also ranks in the top 10 all-time in several other categories including: points (6th, 1,322), assists (7th, 318), and steals (5th, 136).
Ryan was named to the NABC 2010-11 Honors Court, and has been a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll all four years while at SBU. In 2012 Ryan was also awarded the Orlin B. Stewart Award, handed out by a member of the Bolivar community, and the Rex Brown Award, which is an honor given to the top male senior athlete at SBU.
Ryan is a two-year member of SAAC (Student Athletic Advisory Committee) and remained extremely involved within the Bolivar community during his time at SBU. Ryan volunteered six separate times during Special Olympics events held on the SBU campus from 2009-2012, sang Christmas Carols to special needs children in 2009, shoveled snow for the elderly in 2009 and 2010, volunteered at the First Baptist Church Basketball Clinic in 2010, and volunteered at retirement homes in 2011 and 2012.
