CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced today the three female and three male finalists for its 2024-25 Johanna Olson and Duane Schroeder Scholar-Athletes of the Year Awards. 
 
The finalists for the Johanna Olson A-R-C Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year are former Central College track & field and cross country student-athlete Addison Parrott, former Nebraska Wesleyan University track & field student-athlete Avery Decker, and former Simpson College soccer and track & field student-athlete Madison Hays.
 
The Duane Schroeder A-R-C Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year finalists are former Coe College football student-athlete Alex Aitchison, former University of Dubuque track & field student-athlete Otis Patterson, and former Nebraska Wesleyan University soccer student-athlete Zach Weis.
 
The Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year are selected from among the finalists by a vote of the A-R-C Faculty Athletic Representative. 
 
The Scholar-Athletes of the Year will be announced on January 7, 2026.  
 
About Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards
The American Rivers Conference 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. The nominee 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. Both awards were named originally for former Wartburg College and Conference sports information director Duane Schroeder in May 2002. The women’s award was renamed in 2013 for former Luther College student-athlete Johanna Olson - the inaugural winner of the women’s award - who lost a courageous battle with cancer in January 2013. 
 
About Johanna Olson
The American Rivers Conference 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 Conference Individual Championships and three Conference Most Valuable Runner awards (1999, 2000, 2001). In track and field, she was the 2001 Conference 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 1991, Olson was presented the Honda Awards Inspirational Athlete of the Year after returning from radiation treatments to compete at the national level. 
 
About Duane Schroeder
The American Rivers Conference Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award is named in honor of the late Duane Schroeder, former sports information director (SID) 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 Conference’s information director and secretary/treasurer. 
 
2024-25 Female Finalists: 
Addison Parrott | Central College
Parrott was a three-time All-American for the Dutch, while earning two A-R-C conference titles. Her highest national finishes were seventh in the 2024 indoor championship, 3,000 steeplechase, and 2025 outdoor championship, in the DMR. 
 
In the classroom, the sociology and psychology major with a minor in religious studies carried a cumulative GPA of 3.85 during her time at Central. She earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors on five occasions as well as College Sports Communicators Academic All-District three times. She was inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma and was a member of Psi Chi. 
 
In leadership and community service roles, Parrott was involved as an intern at Heartland Christian Counseling. She served as a service leader and intern with Crisis Intervention Services. She was the team captain for the Dutch cross country team during her senior season as well as the track & field captain. She served as the Psi Chi Co-President during the 2024-25 academic year and the Psychology Club Co-President during the 2024-25 academic year, too. 
 
Joe Dunham, Central College Head Cross Country and Track & Field Coach: “While her efforts on the cross country course and track were incredible, Addison will also leave a legacy for the Central College distance program, through the leadership she provided by example that other runners will emulate. Addison is never satisfied, always looking for new and better ways to achieve, and it is these qualities that I believe will give her incredible success in other areas of her life as she continues her academic pursuit of a master’s degree in counseling.”

Avery Decker | Nebraska Wesleyan University
Decker is an NCAA Division III national champion in the javelin. Her consistent effort improved annually as she improved each season nationally. She won the conference javelin title three times (2023-2025) and is the Nebraska Wesleyan school record holder in the javelin (48.70 meters). Additionally, she holds the American Rivers Conference Championship record in the javelin (48.43 meters). 
 
In the classroom, the biology major, with minors in chemistry and modern language literacy: Spanish, held a cumulative grade point average of 3.741 during her undergraduate studies. Decker is earning her master's in business administration and currently holds a 4.00 GPA. She earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors on three occasions, capping it with Academic All-American honors in 2025. She was a member of Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society and was a three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree. 
 
In leadership and community service roles, Decker assisted at Hope’s Kitchen, with Special Olympics, Tabitha Meals on Wheels, and with the Alzheimer’s Association. Additionally, she assisted with philanthropic events with Delta Zeta Sorority and Huge-NWU Honor Society campus clean-ups. She was actively part of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). 
 
Derrick McKenzie, Nebraska Wesleyan University Director of Cross Country and Track & Field: “More than her domination in the javelin and her academic excellence, Avery is a natural when it comes to leadership. Her ability to relate to all athletes, the best in the program or those that are developmental, is one of her best qualities. Avery set the tone at practice and showed everyone what it takes to excel as a human being. I am 100% convinced that Avery Decker elevated every single person in our program to be not only the athlete they needed to be, but the person they were destined to be.”
 
Madison Hays | Simpson College
Hays was a dual-sport athlete while at Simpson College, in soccer and track & field. Additionally, Hays competed in tennis in 2021. She earned All-Region honors in track & field and soccer during her career. She is a three-time Simpson record holder in track & field and a four-time record holder in soccer. 
 
In the classroom, a double major in marketing communication and management, she carried a 3.982 cumulative grade point average. She is a three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Selection and five-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree. She was an Epsilon Sigma honor society member and earned American Rivers All-Academic honors each time she could. 
 
In leadership and community service roles, Hays was a marketing intern for the Ronald McDonald Charities of Iowa and a huddle leader for Fellowship of Christian Athletes for Indianola High School. She was an assistant soccer coach for U10/U11 teams in Indianola and was involved with the Simpson College Dance Marathon. She served as a board member at Hospital Homies pediatric visitation non-profit and a volunteer at Upward Bound Poverty Simulation.

Kedron Bardwell, Simpson College Political Science and Honors / First Year Seminar Director: "Maddie is an extremely well-rounded athlete. I will be honest; I had not even remembered Maddie played three sports in college. When she did make a switch early on from tennis to track, she showed her versatility, grit, and ability to master and compete at a high level as a multi-sport athlete. The fact that she was an All-American in one sport (track) and All-Region in track and soccer (and won All-Academic Awards in both) shows her dedication and hard work on and off the field/track. This feat is all the more amazing because she didn’t even run track (much less hurdles) in high school!"

2024-25 Male Finalists:
Alex Aitchison | Coe College
Aitchison was a successful football student-athlete for the Kohawks. His defensive efforts ranked among the best in the conference and nationally during his career. He earned AP and D3football.com All-American honors, as well as being a four-time all-conference performer. 
 
In the classroom, Aitchison maintained a 3.897 cumulative grade point average while majoring in kinesiology and minoring in education. He earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-American honors twice during his career after being named to All-District on three occasions. He earned American Rivers All-Academic four times during his career. 
 
In leadership and community service roles, Aitchison was a three-year football team captain. He took part in Read Across America Day, the Cedar Rapids residential tree program, Cascade Pride Days, and derecho recovery and clean-up. He consistently volunteered at youth sport camps and summer camps. 
John Chandler, Coe College Associate Professor of Kinesiology: “Alex was a team captain for three years in our football program, which is quite unusual. The respect he has from players and coaches goes well beyond his success on the playing field. Alex has led both verbally and by physical example with the football team, and the results were very apparent. In game after game on the football field the past five years, his leadership came forward at critical moments and helped Coe to achieve victory. This is the kind of leadership that is not seen often, and many times, it can make the difference between success and failure.”
 
Otis Patterson | University of Dubuque 
Patterson is a four-time All-American and seven-time NCAA qualifier. He earned seven A-R-C titles and 12 total all-conference honors. He was named the 2025 Indoor Track Athlete of the Year as well as the 2025 Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. 
 
In the classroom, Patterson held a 4.00 cumulative grade point average during his undergraduate studies in communications. He now holds a 3.92 GPA during his master’s studies in management - sport management. He is a three-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-American honoree and a four-time American Rivers All-Academic honoree. He is a UD Wendt Character Scholar-Athlete of the Year and has earned the Spartan Academic Achievement Award. 
 
In leadership and community service roles, Patterson has served as a food pantry volunteer and took part in the UD Spartans Make a Difference Day. He has been a back to school drive worker and a high school heritage tour guide. Patterson has been a role model for young men through the YMCA Dubuque and has attended numerous community diversity and inclusion meetings. 
 
Jake Malam, University of Dubuque Head Track & Field Coach: “I know Otis to be a person of high character. Despite all his successes, he has remained humble, soft-spoken, and someone who cares about his team's success just as much as his own. Perhaps this is due to the fact that he has worked himself into the student-athlete he is today and nothing was gifted to him. He has seen the results of his work ethic and perseverance and he has used that experience to inspire his teammates.”

Zach Weis | Nebraska Wesleyan University
Weis was a four-time all-conference performer in the American Rivers Conference. He ranks fourth all-time in Nebraska Wesleyan history in career savers and career shutouts, and fifth all-time in season shutouts. 
 
In the classroom, Weis double majored in philosophy and religion and political science and maintained a 4.00 cumulative grade point average. Weis earned first-team College Sports Communicators Academic All-American honors his senior campaign and was honored with the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Additionally, was the Chi Alpha Sigma Nick Mourozis Postgraduate Scholarship recipient. Weis is now enrolled at Harvard Law School. 
 
In volunteer and community service roles, Weis was the co-founder of NWU TEDx and the co-founder and vice president of the philosophy club at Nebraska Wesleyan. He was active in Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and served as a junior varsity soccer coach at Pius X High School. He helped teach a class at a Lincoln, Nebraska, prison. 
 
James Perry, JD, Nebraska Wesleyan University Associate Professor of Professional Studies: “Zach is a rare bird. He is the top scholar at Wesleyan, he is the top athlete at Wesleyan, he and his entrepreneurial partner won the Pitch Contest for the best entrepreneurial idea, and he is a good and sincere person.”

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