Pair of Warriors Highlight GPAC National Award Nominees

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) announced its 2023-24 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. Midland University had a pair of student-athletes honored at the conference level and will move on for consideration for the national awards which will be announced in September.

Henri Stoeckermann is the male nominee for the A.O. Duer Award. As a member of the Warriors' Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, Stoeckermann is majoring in Psychology and Applied Behavioral Analysis. He is from Herrenberg, Germany, and also has a Compressed Major in Management.

With a 4.0 GPA, he is an eight-time All-GPAC Honoree and school record holder in the indoor 800. Stoeckermann has qualified for the NAIA Indoor/Outdoor Championships three times. He is also very active on campus at Midland. He serves as Vice-President of Global Warriors where he has made a significant contribution to the student community and helping international students on campus.

"The characteristics that A.O. Duer Award winners exemplify are all the ones that Henri demonstrates on a daily basis," said Midland Track and Field Coach, Daniel Gerber. "During competition, he has shown great respect for his competitors often running cool downs with other schools, taking the time to get to know them and encourage/congratulate them on their performance."

Madyson Ray is the GPAC nominee for the Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award. Hailing from Blair, Nebraska, she was a member of the Warriors Track and Field program.

"Throughout college, I made it my mission to lead with a servant's heart both on and off the track," said Ray. "I aimed to create an environment where every voice is heard and valued. I didn't just see myself as a competitor, I saw myself as a teammate, leader, and friend."

"When thinking of a distinguished candidate for the Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award, I could not think of a better person than Madyson Ray," said Midland Athletics Director, Courtney Thomsen. "She consistently demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership, athletic aptitude, and a commitment to the core character values of the NAIA Champions of Character Initiative."

For a complete look at the GPAC Award Winner and National Award Nominees, click here.