The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced June 26 that Dani Hoagland of Concordia University, Nebraska is the 2009 female recipient of the prestigious A.O. Duer Award. The award is presented annually to a junior female and male student-athlete in any sport who has excelled in character, playing ability and scholarship. Since 1967, the A.O. Duer Award has been presented in honor of the late former NAIA executive director Al Duer who was responsible for the NAIA's role as the first collegiate organization to be fully integrated.
Hoagland, who calls Rushville, Neb., home, was selected by the NAIA Council of Faculty Athletics Representatives from a field of nominees who attend NAIA member institutions. Candidates must achieve a minimum grade point average of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale. Concordia will receive a $1,000 scholarship award from Daktronics in Hoagland’s name.
Hoagland is a middle blocker for the Concordia Bulldogs volleyball team. Upon Hoagland's arrival at Concordia, she was already willing to sacrifice personal comfort for the betterment of the team by playing a position that she was not accustomed to on the court. Transitioning from middle blocker to right side hitter is a difficult change but with her athleticism and willingness to lead, she accepted the challenge and was a starter in her first collegiate season. In the subsequent years, she returned to her traditional position and has received numerous awards and accolades, including selection by her teammates as a captain in her junior year. Other awards include team Most Valuable Player, All-Tournament Team selection at the St. Ambrose Fall Classic and a repeat Booster Club Athlete of the Week. Success has followed her on the conference level. She was at the top of the team leader board in nearly every offensive category and received All-Conference honors in 2007 and 2008.
"Dani's teammates realize that she strives to lead by example and that she will work hard in every aspect of life," said Rachel Miller, head volleyball coach at Concordia. "They showed this respect by naming her the Bulldog Award winner, which is given to the player who gives 100% in practices, workouts and everything that involves Concordia volleyball. She is an integral part of our team's success and an absolute joy to coach."
Off the court Hoagland has collected many academic awards for her outstanding performance in the classroom. Among these are the Pflieger-Olson Scholar-Athlete Award, NAIA Scholar-Athlete Award and was a 2008-09 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District selection. Majoring in biology, she maintains a rigorous class load, works on campus in the science building and shadows the team physician in the Seward Memorial Clinic. She is studying for the MCAT and plans to become a physician.