CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) is proud to announce that former Wartburg College track & field runner Daniel Bonthius (Iowa City, Iowa / Regina) has been named the Duane Schroeder Iowa Conference Male Scholar Athlete of the Year for the 2014-2015 academic year.

“While I take pride in the Iowa Conference every day of my working life, the announcement of our Scholar-Athlete awards is particularly rewarding." said Iowa Conference Commissioner Chuck Yrigoyen. "Congratulations, and thank you, to Bailey and Daniel. You are shining-light examples of everything our conference and Division III represents. It’s also a day we honor the memory of both Johanna Olson and Duane Schroeder; legendary figures in our league’s history who, like the award-winners and award-nominees, will never be forgotten."
 

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Bonthius graduated Summa Cum Laude with a 4.0 grade point average earning a degree in biology and minor in leadership studies. He is a seven-time Iowa Conference champion, NCAA Division III All-American, NCAA Elite 89 Award winner, NCAA Post-graduate Scholar Award winner, member of multiple honors societies, and Dean’s Honor Cords graduate. He is currently enrolled in a combined MD-PhD program through the University of South Carolina and Clemson University.

“To be a collegiate athlete, it takes commitment,” stated head track & field coach Marcus Newsom. “ As you can see from his academic and athletic success, he has been able to prioritize and balance his curricular and co-curricular in an amazing fashion. He is an outstanding young man with great character, motivation, and passion for life.“

As a three-year captain of the Wartburg track & field team, Bonthius was always in a leadership role. He holds three Wartburg records (800m Run - Indoors and Outdoors, 4x800m Relay (Outdoors) and two IIAC records (800m Run, 4x800m Relay). A four-time NCAA Championships qualifier, he earned All-American honors in the 800m Run Outdoors in 2013 and 2015.

As associate professor of Biology Edward Weston noted, “Dan is one of the strongest students I have encountered in my 12 years teaching. Leadership comes pretty naturally to him, he always works well in groups whether paired with weak or strong students. He is simply a fantastic student and person. ”

Bonthius has twice earned one of the post prestigious awards from the NCAA by claiming the Elite 89 Award at the 2013 and 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. In addition, he earned CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year while earning Academic All-America all three years he was eligible. He spent all fours year at Wartburg in the Scholar’s Program while earning Dean’s List honors each semester.

“Daniel was the epitome of someone who willingly takes on a task just for the sake of learning,” said professor Johanna Foster, Ph.D. “Daniel is one of the most organized and accomplished students I have ever known. He is thoughtful, pleasant, respectful, smart, responsible, and an amazing young man!”

As a leader on campus, Bonthius has taken an active role in the Wartburg Leadership Studies Certificate Program while also doing Independent Research projects through Wartburg and the University of Iowa. It was during this time that he helped design and develop an inexpensive and easily assembled prosthetic arm that can be used for patients in developing countries. He has also spent time volunteering at the Iowa City Animal Shelter and Waverly Health Center Emergency Room.

Bonthius and this year’s female honoree – former Wartburg College volleyball player Bailey Wilson – will be honored in May at the Conference’s annual awards banquet.

Also nominated for the 2014-15 Duane Schroeder IIAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year was Central College track & field performer Spencer Hammack (Ottumwa, Iowa / Ottumwa). 

About the IIAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards
The IIAC Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards were 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. He 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.
 
Previous recipients of the Duane Schroeder IIAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year include Tim Vinyard (2000-01, Coe College football and baseball), Dale Biser (2001-02, Cornell College football and track & field), Jesse Harris (2002-03, Simpson College basketball), Brent Showalter (2003-04, Wartburg College track & field), Garrett South (2004-05, Luther College wrestling), Adam Duerfeldt (2005-06, Central College baseball), Adam Bohach (2006-07, Luther College cross country and track & field), Kyle Duchman (2007-08, Wartburg College football), Alec Bonander (2008-09, Luther College wrestling),Tyler Burkle (2009-10, Coe College wrestling), Ryan Schisler (2010-11, Coe College baseball), Michael Zweifel (2011-12, University of Dubuque football), Wyatt Hanus (2012-13, University of Dubuque football), and Kyle Freischlag (2013-14, Central College track & field).
 
About Duane Schroeder
The IIAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award is named in honor of the late Duane Schroeder, the former Wartburg College sports information director. 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.