CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa --- The Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) announced today that former Central College football standout Riley Gray (West Des Moines, Iowa/Waukee) has been named the Duane Schroeder IIAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year for the 2016-17 academic year. The award, the highest individual honor from the conference, goes to an alumnus from the previous academic year.
 
Gray compiled a 3.63 grade-point average during his standout career at Central, majoring in Physics. He was a two-time team captain (2015, 2016) and a first-team All-Iowa Conference quarterback as a senior. In that senior year he threw for 2,478 yards with 29 touchdowns and a 156.3% passer efficiency rating. He compiled 3,095 total yards of offense and nine additional touchdowns on the ground. Gray holds Central College records for longest pass (99 yds.) and most passing attempts in a single game (43). He graduated Cum Laude and earned the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. The NCAA awards up to 174 postgraduate scholarships annually. The scholarships are awarded to student-athletes who excel academically and athletically and who are at least in their final year of intercollegiate athletics competition. Gray was also named to the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society for academic achievement. His community service included leadership roles at Fellowship of Christian Athlete summer camps. He volunteered at iExplore, a "STEM" event at Central College, the Children and Family Urban Youth Ministries and the Neil Smith National Wildlife Refuge. Gray also volunteered in leadership roles on campus that include SAAC, FCA and the Student Senate. 

"The quality of our nominees year-after-year continues to amaze me,” said Iowa Conference Commissioner Chuck Yrigoyen. “Riley Gray rose to the top of the Faculty Athletics Representatives' vote, earning the nod over an immensely talented group of four male student-athletes. We talk about "Integrity, Integration, Achievement and Character in the Iowa Conference; Riley embodies every facet of that four-pronged vision as does women's honoree Lori Obendorf. Congratulations on behalf of the Iowa Conference's Presidents Council and the conference office."

Athletics Achievements:

• 1st Team All-Conference Quarterback 2016 
• Iowa Conference Male Athlete of the Week, Oct. 23, 2016 
• Iowa Conference Offensive Player of the Week, Oct. 23, 2016 
• Team Stars and Stripes, Dm all-stars, Tazon de Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars, Mexico), Dec. 18. 2016) 
• Ted Dagh Award (outstanding member of defensive scout team), 2013 
• Three varsity letters
• Concluded his senior season completing 205 of 319 passing attempts for 2,478 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and just five interceptions - 156.3% passer efficiency rating, 64.3 completion percentage, Total Offense - 3,095 yards including 9 rushing touchdowns.
• School Record - Most passing attempts in a single game (43)
• School Record - Longest pass from scrimmage (99yds)

Scholarly Achievements:

• NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship 2016 
• National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society for academic achievement, 2016 
• Iowa Conference All-Academic Team, Football 2014, 2015, 2016 
• Central College Presidential Scholarship Award 
• Study abroad experience at Bangor University, Bangor, Wales, United Kingdom, Summer 2015 
• Cum Laude graduate, 2017 

Community / Campus Service:

• Huddle Leader at 2016 Fellowship of Christian Athlete Summer Camp, Pella, Iowa 
• Volunteer at iExplore "STEM" event at Central College, Pella, IA 
• Volunteer at Children and Family Urban Youth Ministries, Des Moines, Iowa 
• Earth Day Volunteer, Neil Smith National Wildlife Refuge, Prairie City, Iowa 

Leadership Service:

• Team Co-Captain 2015, 2016
• Team Co-Captain Team Stars and Stripes, Division lll game, Tazon de Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars) 
• Team Co-Captain for Global Football team against Roma Grizzlies (Rome, Italy)
• Senate Leader, Central College Student Senate, 2015, 2016
• Student Representative to the Central College Board of Trustees, 2015, 2016
• Central College Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) Leadership Team
• Central College Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Huddle Leader
• Ron Schipper Leadership Award 2017
• Mentink Award (leadership and inspiration on and off the field), 2016
• Student Marshall for Baccalaureate and Commencement
• Keynote Speaker for freshman orientation and Academic Scholar Day 2016

What They Said About Riley Gray:
Jeff McMartin, Head Coach Football, Central College
"He is an empathetic, mature, and compassionate young adult. Riley has outstanding leadership and communication skills and works well with all groups of people. He understands how to work successfully within the team concept. Riley Gray is the only player in my thirteen years as a head coach who has been selected to serve as a team captain in both his junior and senior seasons." ?

John Roslien, Associate Professor of Exercise Science and Director of Athletic Training, Central College
"In three decades at Central College, I have known few students more deserving of this recognition." "His academic and athletic record is impressive for any person, but even more so considering he balanced academics and athletics with so many other demanding activities. Riley is truly remarkable. He left an imprint at Central College. We are extremely proud to call him an alumnus."

Lori Witt, Associate Professor of History, Central College
"He makes those around him better, whether it is in the classroom, on the football field, or as a fellow worker in student government, service projects, or any other kind of job. I think he embodies all the best qualities of an NCAA and IIAC student-athlete."

Gray, and this year’s female honoree – former Loras College basketball player Lori Obendorf – will be honored May 29th at the conference’s annual awards banquet. This year, that event takes place at Central College.
 
Also nominated for the 2016-17 Duane Schroeder IIAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year were former Coe College football student-athlete Gavin Glenn, former Luther College wrestler Justin Kreiter and former Wartburg College football player Patrick Rooney. For more information on these nominees, click here for the January 24, 2018 nominees / finalists release.

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), Kyle Freischlag (2013-14, Central College tennis),  Daniel Bonthius (2014-15, Wartburg College track & field), Zach Frey (2015-16, Loras 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.
 

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