The 2001-02 year marked the presentation of the inaugural Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (Conference named changed to American Rivers Conference 2018-19 academic year) Scholar Athletes of the Year. One male student-athlete and one female student-athlete are chosen each fall for the previous academic year. The inaugural award announced in November 2001 was presented for the 2000-01 academic year.

To be eligible for nomination for the American Rivers Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year, a student-athlete must have demonstrated a high level of accomplishment and achievement in a varsity sport, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale), and show evidence of scholarly achievements, community service involvement and leadership.

Each American Rivers Conference institution can nominate one male and one female student-athlete. From the nominees submitted by the institutions, the Scholar-Athlete Recommendation Committee comprised of three Faculty Representatives and three Sports Information Directors, select a maximum of three male and three female finalists. The Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year are selected from among the finalists by a vote of the A-R-C Faculty Representatives.

At the Conference's annual spring meeting in May 2002, Commissioner John T. Cochrane announced the Scholar Athlete of the Year award would be renamed the Duane Schroeder Scholar Athlete of the Year in honor of the long serving Wartburg College sports information director. During much of his four decades at Wartburg, Schroeder served as the Conference's secretary and treasurer.

In December 2013, the Conference announed that the women's award would be renamed in honor and memory of Johanna Olson, the inaugural winner who battled brain tumors throughout her collegiate career - one which culminated in three Conference cross country and a national title. Olson passed away on January 3, 2013.

Scholar-Athlete of the Year Nomination Form > Word | PDF
 

American Rivers Conference Scholar Athletes of the Year