CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has nominated three outstanding former student-athletes for the 2025 Division III Commissioners Association (DIIICA) Student-Athletes of the Year: Avery Decker (Nebraska Wesleyan, track & field), Otis Patterson (University of Dubuque, track & field), and Alex Aitchison (Coe College, football). Decker has also been selected as the A-R-C's nominee for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award.
To be eligible for the DIIICA award, nominees must be graduating seniors or graduates who have not previously been nominated. Conferences may submit up to two nominations per gender, provided at least one nominee is an international student-athlete or ethnic minority.
Division III is divided into ten regions, each selecting one female and one male regional award recipient. Those honorees will advance to the DIIICA Awards Committee for national consideration.
The A-R-C nominees will compete for regional honors against student-athletes from the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), Midwest Conference (MWC), Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), and Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC).
The announcement of regional award recipients is scheduled for August 21, with national honorees to be revealed on September 4.
Learn more about Decker, Patterson, and Aitchison below.
Avery Decker, Nebraska Wesleyan University
Decker graduated with a degree in biology and minors in chemistry and modern language literacy, holding a cumulative GPA of 3.74. She was named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
A four-time First-Team All-American in the javelin, Decker improved each year, culminating in a national championship title in 2025. She also holds both the A-R-C Championship Meet record and the all-time conference record in the event.
Beyond athletics, Decker served as a medical scribe and was involved with organizations such as Special Olympics, Tabitha Meals on Wheels, SAAC, Delta Zeta, the Huge-NWU Honor Society, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Alex Aitchison, Coe College
Aitchison graduated with a degree in kinesiology and a minor in education, earning a 3.897 GPA. He was a two-time CSC Academic All-American and a three-time Academic All-District selection.
On the field, Aitchison was a key contributor to Coe's 33–9 record during his career, helping the Kohawks to back-to-back NCAA playoff appearances. He earned All-America honors from both the Associated Press and D3football.com and was a four-time First-Team All-Conference selection.
Off the field, Aitchison volunteered with Read Across America, derecho recovery efforts, and local youth camps. He served as a team captain for three years and was recognized as an offseason captain in 2024.
Otis Patterson, University of Dubuque
Patterson graduated with a degree in communications and a perfect 4.0 GPA. He is currently pursuing a Master's in Management with a concentration in Sport Management, maintaining a 3.92 GPA. He was a CSC First-Team Academic All-American in 2024 and 2025 and earned Third-Team honors in 2023.
Patterson earned All-America honors at the 2025 NCAA Indoor Championships with a sixth-place finish in the 4x400 relay. He was named A-R-C Indoor and Outdoor Track Most Valuable Performer and later placed 10th in the 400 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, earning Second-Team All-America honors.
In the community, Patterson was active with UD Spartans Make a Difference Day, Park-Clean-a-Thon, and the River Bend Food Pantry. On campus, he was a Wendt Character Scholar and member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society.
About the American Rivers Conference
Nationally respected for excellence in NCAA Division III athletics, the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) has a tradition dating back to its founding in 1922 as the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association and adopted its current name in 2018 to reflect its strong Iowa roots and growing regional footprint. The A-R-C is a collaborative community that champions the holistic development of student-athletes, uniting member institutions in a shared commitment to academic achievement, athletic distinction, and leadership.
The A-R-C is home to nine full-time member institutions: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College. Luther College has announced its departure from the conference, effective at the conclusion of the 2025–26 academic year.
