SCAC Announces 2017 Man of the Year Finalists

SCAC Announces 2017 Man of the Year Finalists

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference announced today the six finalists for the 2017 SCAC Man of the Year award. The award recognizes the conference’s senior male student-athlete who has best distinguished himself throughout his collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence and service and leadership. Past Winners

This year's finalists include: Michael Shimpf of Centenary College, Soren Frykholm of Colorado College, Tom Kaiser of the University of Dallas, Connor Ver Schuur of Schreiner University, Justin Broussard of Southwestern University and Luke Packard of Trinity University.

To be nominated, student-athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in his primary sport by the end of the 2017 spring season, received his undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2017 term and had a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale).

The 2017 Southern Collegiate Athletic Man of the Year will be selected and announced later this month.

Scroll below to read a quick bio on each of the six finalists:


Michael Schimpf, Centenary College
Baseball

  • Graduated as a History and French major with a 3.94 GPA
  • Four-time SCAC Academic Honor Roll honoree (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017)
  • Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-America (2016 and 2017)
  • Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District (2016 and 2017)
  • Four-time All-SCAC outfielder (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017)
  • D3Baseball.com All-American (2017)
  • Two-time All-Region selection by D3Baseball.com and American Baseball Coaches Association (2016 and 2017)
  • Two-time SCAC leader in batting average (2016 and 2017)
  • M.T. Brewerton Award (given to a graduating senior in history) (2017)
  • Katherine Slaikeu Nolan Award (for historical research) (2016)
  • Member of Alpha Chi Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society, Phi Alpha Theta Historical Society and Chi Alpha Sigma, the academic fraternity for the National College Athlete Honor Society, President of Maroon Jackets (2016-2017) and Associate Chief Justice of Centenary Honor Court (2015-2017)
  • Interned with Centenary Archives and Special Collections, youth baseball camp coach

Soren Frykholm, Colorado College
Men’s Soccer

  • Graduated as Romance Languages major with a 3.85 GPA
  • Three-time SCAC Academic Honor Roll honoree (2014, 2015 and 2016)
  • Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection (2015 and 2016)
  • Two-time NSCAA Academic All-District selection (2015 and 2016)
  • NSCAA First-Team Scholar All-America selection (2016)
  • Two-time All-SCAC selection (2015 and 2016)
  • SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team (2015)
  • Two-time NSCAA All-Region Team (2015 and 2016)
  • D3soccer.com and NSCAA All-American (2016)
  • Colorado College Male Student Athlete of the Year (2017)
  • Recipient of NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and NCAA Jim McKay Scholarship (2016-2017)
  • Recipient of Colorado College E.C. Van Diest Graduating Senior Award (for character, scholarship and citizenship) (2017)
  • Member of Phi Sigma Iota Honor Society
  • Recipient of Linda Hare Goddard 1977 Award (for Spanish majors) (2015-2016)
  • English teacher in Brazilian favela (2016)
  • Tutor at Colorado Mountain College GED class (2013 and 2014)
  • Men’s Soccer team captain (2016)
  
Tom Kaiser, University of Dallas
Men’s Basketball

  • Graduated as a psychology major with a 3.73 GPA
  • Three-time SCAC Academic Honor Roll honoree (2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017)
  • Men’s Basketball team captain (2015-16 and 2016-2017)
  • SCAC All-Sportsmanship team (2016-2017)
  • SCAC Character & Community Award (2016)
  • Participates in the Irving ISD mentorship program (2015 and 2016)
   
Connor Ver Schuur, Schreiner University
Baseball

  • Graduated as a Marketing major with a 3.30 GPA
  • Four-year letter in baseball
  • Baseball Team Captain (2015, 2016 and 2017)
  • SCAC Academic Honor Roll honoree (2015)
  • Member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (2015-2017)
  • Veterans Administration Contract – Liaison (2016-2017)
  • Volunteered with Big Brothers, Big Sisters (2016) and Christian Men’s Job Corp (2016)


Justin Broussard, Southwestern University
 
Football

  • Graduated as a Kinesiology major with a 3.45 GPA
  • Four-time SCAC Academic Honor Roll honoree (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016)
  • Received the Director of Athletics Academic Excellence Award (2015 and 2016)
  • D3Football.com Second-Team All-America selection (2016)
  • Two-time D3Football.com All-Region selection (2015 and 2016)
  • AFCA All-Region selection (2016)
  • Cliff Harris Award finalist (2016)
  • SCAC Defensive Player of the Year (2016)
  • Four-time All-SCAC First Team selection (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016)
  • Football team captain (2013-2017)
  • SIRA Supervisor (2016-2017)
  • Volunteered at the hospital (2015), with Special Olympics (2015), the Ride Along Center for Kids (2013-2015) and the Christine Michael Football Camp (2016)
 
Luke Packard, Trinity University
Football

  • Graduated as a Economics and Business Administration major with a 3.23 GPA
  • Three-time SCAC Academic Honor Roll honoree (2014, 2015 and 2016)
  • Three-time All-SCAC selection (2014, 2015 and 2016)
  • D3Football.com All-America selection (2016)
  • D3Football.com All-Region selection (2016)
  • Member of National Football Foundation (2016)
  • Member and President of Omicron Delta Epsilon (2016-2017), member of Bengal Lancers (2015-2017)
  • Volunteer with Fall Frolics to help raise money for Haven for Hope (2015-2017), Chili Cook Off to raise money for San Antonio Rape Crisis Center (2016-2017), Sunshine Cottage School for the Deaf (2014-2016) and Saint Vincent de Paul (2013-2016)
  • Volunteered with 2015 Wounded Warrior Concert and 2017 Bengal Lancer Volleyball Tournament