CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa --- The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that former Loras College basketball player Kaitlin Phillips (Hinckley, Ill. / Hinckley-Big Rock) and former Luther College swimmer Clare Slagel (Dubuque, Iowa / Hempstead) have been named the co-winners of the Johanna Olson IIAC Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year for the 2015-16 academic year. The award, the highest individual honor from the conference, goes to an alumna(e) from the previous academic year. It's the first time in the 16-year history of the award that the Faculty Athletics Representatives' voting ended in a tie.


Phillips had an outstanding 3.949 grade-point average while majoring in international studies, sociology and political science at Loras. She was three times a first team all-conference choice in women's basketball. The ninth member of Loras women's basketball's 1,000-point club, Phillips finished ninth in career scoring at the school (1,062 points). The three-year team captain also was fourth all-time with 303 assists and 10th all-time with 78 3-pointers made. Phillips was the only Division III player on the Allstate WBCA Good Works Team, honoring those women's basketball players for their play and community service. Her social-activism and community resume is lengthy, highlighted by volunteer work in Kenya, with the City of Dubuque, Special Olympics, local elementary schools and a local home for the elderly.


Slagel compiled an excellent 3.935 GPA in her Luther major of environmental studies. She is the only Iowa Conference swimmer to win a national individual championship, doing it twice in her decorated career. Slagel won the 200 backstroke at the 2014 NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships and followed up with gold in the 100 back at the 2015 national meet. Her NCAA resume also included one second-place finish and three third-place finishes. She was the Liberal Arts Championship's (the equivalent of the conference championship meet) Swimmer of the Meet all four years of her collegiate career. Slagel had an impressive research resume in veterinary medicine during her undergraduate days. She also made an impact on her hometown, volunteering in "Green Dubuque" (air-quality measurements) and at the National Mississippi River Aquarium and Museum.
 

"What a joy to recognize two of the Iowa Conference's brightest and best,” said Iowa Conference Commissioner Chuck Yrigoyen. “Kaitlin and Clare, and male winner Zach Frey, all have made extraordinary impacts at such young ages. Couple that with athletics accomplishments in one of the best conferences in Division III, and it's easy to see why this vote ended in a tie."

Athletics Achievements (Phillips)

• Three year captain of women's basketball team.
• Three-time first team IIAC All-Conference.
• Three-time IIAC All-Academic Team.
• 9th all-time at Loras in scoring (1,062 points).
• 9th member of 1,000 point club.
• 4th all-time at Loras in assists (303).
• Graduated as part of the winningest class in Loras women’s basketball's 41-year history.

Athletics Achievements (Slagel)

• Four-time national qualifier.
• Two-time national champion (200 back in 2014; 100 back in 2015).
• Four-time Liberal Arts Women’s Swimmer of the Year.
• Eight-time All-American.
• 27-time Liberal Arts Champion.
• Five individual school records, four of which are also Liberal Arts and Iowa Conference records.

Scholarly Achievements (Phillips)

• Academic Dean’s Top 20 GPA’s of senior class.
• Valder Social Justice Scholar Recipient (2015): Worked with a social justice group that unites interfaith leaders against social justice issues.
• Sociology Department Student of the year.
• National Delta Epsilon Sigma Award Recipient: one of two nationally to receive this level of award.
• CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2016.
• Three-time IIAC All-Academic Team (3.5 GPA or higher).

Scholarly Achievements (Slagel)

• Three-time Iowa Conference Winter Sports All-Academic Team (3.5 GPA or higher).
• Four-time College Swimming Coaches Association of America Scholar All-American.
• Three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American.
• Student Researcher, Luther College: Investigated the effects of celiac and renal denervation on blood pressure in adolescent rats.
• Summer Research Assistant, University of Iowa: Explored various bone decalcification techniques for histological use in the pathology department.

Community / Campus Service (Phillips)

• International Volunteer Headquarters in Kitengela, Kenya; Summer: five-week program volunteer teaching at St. Louis academy in Kitengela.
• Dubuque County Humane Society Volunteer: Walked dogs, cleaned the shelter.
• Fulton Elementary School Morning Program Volunteer: Fed underprivileged students, read with them, checked homework.
• Luther Manor Elderly Home Visitor: played games with the elderly in the home, talking with and keeping them company on a weekly basis.
• Adopt a Family: Four-year participant in raising funds and distributing gifts for Christmas wish lists for children at Iowa Children’s Hospital.
• Special Olympics Iowa: Four-year participant in partnering with one special Olympian in Iowa and including him in team events.

Community / Campus Service (Slagel)

• Green Dubuque: Air Quality Measurements Volunteer: collected data using an AirBeam/Aircasting system to measure particulate matter.
• National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium Volunteer: worked with the animal husbandry staff in the care of the animals at the facility.
• Dubuque Regional Humane Society Volunteer: worked full-time with the veterinarian and vet-techs performing technical and routine animal care.
• Emergency Room Volunteer: collaborated with the two other secretaries with clerical duties.
• Red Watch Band Luther College: contributed to group discussions and planning on how to make Luther a safer campus.

What They Said About Kaitlin Phillips:
Justin Heinzen, Women's Basketball Head Coach, Loras College
"In my twelve years of college coaching, I have never been around someone more compelled by a calling to serve. Amidst an incredible academic and athletic balance, she consistently sought out others."

Rick Anderson, Professor of Sociology, Loras College
"Though it is easy to see her high scores, good grades, and a long list of awards, she is even more impressive in person than on paper. What doesn’t show quite as easily as accomplishments is how much Kaitlin contributes to a vibrant community."

Mark Kehren, Associate Professor of History, Loras College
"Kaitlin and I have continuously discussed this experience [her teaching experience in Kenya] and how her exposure to issues regarding urban poverty, community development initiatives, public health, and other transnational issues has impacted her worldview and career development path."

What They Said About Clare Slagel:
Bethany Nicoll, Former Interim Head Women's Swimming Coach, Luther College
"The word that best describes Clare in my eyes is humble. She lives her life without an expectation of recognition."

Kirk Larsen, Professor of Biology, Luther College
"Clare’s academic ability, her dedication and attention to detail, pointed questions, pleasant personality, and 'team-player' attitude all make Clare the type of scholar-athlete I love to have working in my own research lab."

Rachel Brummel, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, Luther College
"As a professor, Clare is the student that you want in your classes because she gives others the motivation to be better and the permission to be truly interested and engaged."

Phillips and Slagel, and this year’s male honoree – former Loras College track runner Zach Frey – will be honored May 30 at the conference’s annual awards banquet. This year, that event takes place at Buena Vista University.
 
Also nominated for the 2015-16 Johanna Olson IIAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year were former Coe College volleyball player Brianna Smith, University of Dubuque volleyball player Klaudia Basierak, and former Wartburg College soccer player Lisa Trizzino. For more information on these nominees, click here for the January 10, 2017 nominees / finalists release.
 
About the IIAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards
The 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. Originally named for longtime Wartburg sports information director and Iowa Conference secretary-treasurer Duane Schroeder, the women’s award was renamed in December 2013 in honor and memory of inaugural winner Johanna Olson (see below).
 
Previous recipients of the 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) Staker (2007-08, Coe College volleyball and softball), Kelsey Steffens (2008-09, Wartburg College volleyball and track & field), Hannah Baker (2009-10, Wartburg College track & field), Jill (Ziskovsky) Halcomb (2010-11, Central College track & field), Kelsey (Kittleson) Millonig (2011-12, Luther College softball), Shari Huber (2012-13, Luther College softball), Ramey Sieck (2013-14, Wartburg College volleyball, and Bailey Wilson (2014-15, Wartburg College volleyball).
 
About Johanna Olson
The IIAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award is named in honor of the late Johanna Olson, a former cross country and track & field student-athlete at Luther College who was the inaugural recipient of the award. Olson battled brain cancer for over 15 years before her fight ended on January 3, 2013 at age 33. She was originally diagnosed with a brain tumor as a college freshman in 1997 but went on to win the 2000 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship three years to the day after her initial brain surgery. In addition to the national title in cross country, she won three Iowa Conference Individual Championships and three IIAC Most Valuable Runner awards (1999, 2000, 2001). In track and field, she was the 2001 IIAC Most Valuable Performer, earning All-America honors in the 3,000 and 5,000 meter runs. Olson was also a member of the 2001 distance medley relay team that captured the indoor national title. She was named the United States Track Coaches Association (USTCA) regional and national Athlete of the Year in both cross country and track and field in 2000-01. In 1999, Olson was presented the Honda Awards Inspirational Athlete of the Year after returning from radiation treatments to compete at the national level.