CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA . . . The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that former Central College track & field athlete Jill (Ziskovsky) Halcomb (Dallas Center, Iowa/Dallas Center-Grimes) has been named the Duane Schroeder IIAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the 2010-2011 academic year.
“When we talk about the Iowa Conference's vision for our student-athletes – Integrity, Integration, Achievement, Character – we are provided countless examples on all of our campuses,” said Iowa Conference Commissioner Chuck Yrigoyen. “Central’s Jill (Ziskovsky) Halcomb and Coe’s Ryan Schisler deservedly rose to the top of the list in the final vote. I want to congratulate and thank them, along with the other finalists, for their embodiment of the total student-athlete experience, combining academic, athletic, and campus life pursuits.”
Halcomb graduated Summa Cum Laude in May 2011 after posting a 3.94 grade point average while double-majoring in communication studies and Spanish. She was named to the Dean’s List on five occasions and was the 2011 Central College Spanish Scholar of the Year. Halcomb was a two-time CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-American®, being named to the second team in 2010 and the first team in both 2011. She was also a three-time pick for both the Iowa Conference and United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Teams. In addition, Halcomb was selected as the Iowa Conference’s nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award. She is currently an administrative assistant at Dallas Center-Grimes High School.
“I have often found that our best athletes in the competitive arena are also our best students in the classroom, and Jill is certainly no exception,” Central College Professor of Communication Studies Dennis Doyle said. “In all my experiences with her, I found her to be genuinely curious, highly motivated, and distinguished in her ability to master course content. By the time she graduated, Jill was our top student in the department and someone all professors looked to for accuracy, unique insight, and creativity. I appreciated the way she challenged herself and her classmates whether in discussions, assignments, or projects. She is a compassionate, quiet leader who brings out the best in others and inspires excellence.”
During her time at Central, Halcomb was a Central College Presidential Scholar and a member of the Alpha Zeta Mu, the academic honor society at Central College. A team captain during her final two seasons as a member of the Dutch track & field team, she was also a Central Campus Ministries Praise and Worship Leadership Team Member from 2009-2011 and a bible study leader for the women’s track & field team from 2010-2011. Halcomb was also an active participant in college and team service activities, helping to construct homes in Reynosa, Mexico in January 2010, and serving at a homeless shelter (December 2009) and assisting with a clothing drive (December 2010) in two separate trips to Kansas City. She also served as a volunteer for the annual Klompen Klassic Road Race and, in 2010, helped to assemble playground equipment for a neighborhood park in Pella. As a senior, Halcomb served as a guest speaker at new student welcome events.
“Individualism is a theme that runs rampant in the world of Track and Field,” added Central Head Track and Field and Cross Country Coach Joe Dunham. “The ‘team’ aspect of this sport is an elusive afterthought that is often lost in the midst of individual competing to be the very best in their individual events. However, Jill had a unique way of expressing her extraordinary passion for her teammates…All of [her] success was in large part due to her consistent dependability, humility, and a strong passion for excellence. It was this ‘process’ that eventually defined Jill and gave her the platform to be a role-model as a student and as an athlete during her time at Central College and a member of the IIAC. Her focus always remained on the betterment of the team [and that] was always on display in practice and competition.”
Halcomb was a standout sprinter and multi-eventer on the Central track and field team, claiming seven all-America honors for the Dutch. In both 2010 and 2011, she placed fifth in both the indoor pentathlon and outdoor heptathlon. She also ran on three Dutch all-America 4x400 relays, placing as high as second at the 2011 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. A three-time team MVP and two-year team captain, Halcomb was also a six-time IIAC champion with titles in the 4x400 relay (2008-indoor and outdoor; 2011-indoor), long jump (2008-outdoor), pentathlon (2011-indoor), and heptathlon (2011-outdoor). She graduated as the Iowa Conference record holder in the indoor pentathlon (3,354 points) and as a member of the indoor 4x400-meter relay (3:56.35). She also holds Central school records as a member of the indoor and outdoor 4x200 and 4x400-meter relays and the outdoor sprint medley relay.
In addition to these accomplishments, she was awarded the Central College Senior Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year award in 2011, the recipient of the Dutch Spirit Award in 2010, and was the Women’s Track & Field Most Valuable Freshman Award in 2008.
Also nominated for the 2010-2011 Duane Schroeder IIAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year were former Coe College basketball player and track & field athlete Sarah Anciaux (Iowa City, Iowa/Iowa City), former Loras College track & field athlete Heidi Tobin (Worthington, Iowa/Dyersville Beckman), and former Wartburg College cross country and track & field athlete Lori (Tlach) Kelly (Britt, Iowa/West Hancock).
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), Katie Pederson (2005-06, Central College volleyball and track), Abby Erion (2006-07, Loras College track & field), Kristy Upah (2007-08, Coe College volleyball), Kelsey Steffens (2008-09, Wartburg College volleyball and track & field), and Hannah Baker (2009-10, Wartburg College track & field).
About the Duane Schroeder IIAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award
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.
About Duane Schroeder
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.
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