2024-25 GPAC Nominees for NAIA Awards Announced

(Sioux City, Iowa) – The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) is proud to announce those chosen as the 2024-25 nominees for the top honors in the NAIA, including the A.O. Duer Award, the Emil S. Liston Award, Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award, and the NAIA Coach of Character Award.

"We are excited about this group of incredible nominees again this year," said GPAC Commissioner Corey Westra.  " Naming these nominees is one of most exciting things we do as a conference each year, and I am confident that our nominees will do well at the national level.  More importantly, they are outstanding people who are doing amazing things for their institutions and respective teams."

The national winners will be named during the NAIA National Awards Day in September.  The NAIA winners will be recognized as part of the NAIA National Awards Luncheon at the NAIA National Convention next Spring in Kansas City, Missouri (April 10-14, 2026).

A.O. Duer Award

The A.O. Duer Scholarship Award is named in honor of the NAIA's former executive secretary who served the association for 26 years. This award has been annually presented since 1967 to a male and female student-athlete completing their junior season in any sport who has excelled in scholarship, character, and citizenship.

Female Nominee: Zavyr Metzger, Northwestern College (Iowa)

The female nominee for the A.O. Duer Award is Zavyr Metzger, a member of the Northwestern College Volleyball Team. Metzger, from Larchwood, Iowa, is majoring in Nursing.

Boasting a 3.99 GPA, she is a member of the Dean's List at Northwestern.  She is a two-time 1^st team selection for GPAC Women's Volleyball, twice earning co-defensive player of the year honors.  In 2024, she was a 2^nd team NAIA All-American.  Metzger has led the NAIA in blocking the last two years.

"Beyond her elite athletic performance, Zavyr is an outstanding student," said Northwestern Volleyball Coach Kyle Van Den Bosch. "She is deeply committed to her nursing studies, consistently prepared for class, and spends countless hours developing into a future healthcare professional. Balancing a demanding nursing program while competing at an All-American level in athletics is a rare and remarkable achievement. Regardless of how her day begins, Zavyr always shows up to practice or matches."

Male Nominee: Landon Ruesink, Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.)

The male nominee for the A.O. Duer Award from the GPAC is Landon Ruesink from Dakota Wesleyan University, a member of the Tigers football and baseball teams. Ruesink, from Dell Rapids, South Dakota, is majoring in Accounting.

With a 4.0 GPA, he was an All-GPAC honoree for football in 2024 and baseball in 2023.  He is also a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete and earned CSC Academic All-District honors in 2023.  He was the 2023 winner of the South Dakota Trust Association Scholarship.

"Landon is one of those young adults who pass through your school and you don't realize how great they are until they are gone," said Dakota Wesleyan Faculty Athletic Representative Joel Reinesch. "To earn this award, you must have the total package: Academics, Athletics, and Citizenry. That is what this honor demands of a student-athlete, and Landon exceeds expectations. He is the same kid in victory as he is in defeat and is very worthy of this honor."

Emil S. Liston Award

The Liston Award is named in honor of the NAIA's first executive secretary and the prime mover behind the NAIA Men's Basketball National Tournament. The award has been presented annually since 1950 to one junior men's and one junior women's basketball student-athlete who has shown high athletic and scholastic achievement.

Female Nominee:  Macy Sievers, Dordt University (Iowa)

The female nominee for the Emil S. Liston Award is Macy Sievers, a member of the Dordt University Women's Basketball Team. Sievers, from Storm Lake, Iowa, is majoring in Elementary Education.

With a 3.87 GPA, Sievers was named to the CSC Academic All-America 1^st team in 2024-25, along with being a NAIA Scholar Athlete.  The 2024-25 GPAC and NAIA Player of the Year has helped lead Dordt to back-to-back National Championships and three conference championships.

"Macy is one of the most driven and unique individuals I have had the privilege to coach," said Dordt Women's Basketball Coach Bill Harmsen. "She is studious in the classroom, passionately serves her community, develops deep relationships with her teammates, and pursues excellence on the basketball floor like few others. What truly sets Macy apart is her love for her teammates and the impact she has on others. Macy's school involvement, civic duty, and passion for her family, friends, church, university, and community are at the forefront of her daily interactions and thoughts."

Male Nominee: No Nominees

Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award

The Dr. LeRoy Walker Award is one of the most prestigious awards in the NAIA and was created to honor athletes who went above and beyond in academics, athletics, leadership, and living the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character Initiative.

Nominee: Claire Koile, College of Saint Mary (Nebraska)

The Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award nominee is Claire Koile from College of Saint Mary.  Hailing from Valley, Nebraska, she is a member of the Flames softball program.

After losing her cousin to suicide, Claire has worked to turn tragedy into awareness for mental health.  "I wanted to turn the insurmountable grief I felt into something purposeful," said Koile.  "I wanted to honor his life, bring attention to the importance of mental health, and reduce the stigma surrounding it." 

Koile led efforts to celebrate "988 Day" by wearing ribbons in the suicide prevention colors.  After that game, she wanted to do more, and this year she coordinated a CSM "Suicide Prevention Awareness Game" where she spoke and shared her story and ways people can help prevent suicide.  The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a national hotline offering one-on-one support for mental health, suicide, and substance use-related problems for anyone 24/7.

"Claire has taken a leadership role on the CSM softball team," said her softball coach, Carolyn Todd Bray.  "Claire led our team in addressing the pressing issue of suicide amongst teenagers and college-aged students.  Our game against Dordt on April 11 was an emotional day that honored her cousin, and her leadership was impressive.  The moving thing about the day was that not only CSM embraced the initiative, but Dordt did as well under the coordination of Claire's efforts."

Coach of Character Award

The NAIA Coach of Character Award is an annual award given to a head coach of an NAIA institution who has been outstanding in embracing the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character initiative, using methods of teaching character through sport, and in community leadership through volunteering or service.

Nominee: Aaron Aberson, Northwestern College (Iowa)

Aaron Aberson from Northwestern College is the GPAC nominee for the NAIA Coach of Character Award.
Aberson is the former men's golf coach at Northwestern.

"The standards Aaron set for the Northwestern golf program are a direct reflection of who Aaron is as a person," said Northwestern Vice-President for Athletics Tony Hoops.  "Aaron led a program of service. His athletes reflected our mission of "Honoring Christ Through Excellence in Athletics."

Men's golfers routinely volunteer at local schools for High Five Fridays, putting a smile on kids' faces as they begin their day.  The men's golf program also leads a morning leadership lesson for the middle school "My Choice" program.  They also gave back to the community by helping with flood victims of Northwest Iowa in the summer of 2024.

Aberson was the head men's golf coach at Northwestern for 15 years.

The national winners will be announced during the 2025 NAIA Awards Day on September 15.