The Ken B. Jones award, presented by
Summit Pointe Financial Group, is named after the MIAA's first full-time commissioner and recognizes the Association's top Female and Male Student-Athlete. Mr. Jones was appointed league commissioner in 1981 and the inaugural award, in his honor, began in the 1993-94 academic year.
Each institution may nominate one female and one male student-athlete. The nominees must have completed at least their junior season of athletics eligibility by June 1 of the academic year of nomination. A nominee must have at least a 3.25 cumulative grade-point average through the previous full semester term through February 1 of the academic year of nomination at the certifying member institution.
A 15-member committee comprised of one administrator from each MIAA institution and the conference office ranks each candidate based on excellence in three categories: athletic achievement in that academic year, career academic achievements and community/campus service during the academic year. The committee announces its five finalists 14 days before naming its winner at the annual MIAA Awards Celebration.
PAST KEN B. JONES AWARD WINNERS
FEMALE WINNERS
2023-24 Katie Wagner – Fort Hays State, Basketball [
release]
2022-23 Auna Childress – Pittsburg State, Track & Field* [
release]
2021-22 Faith Rottinghaus – Washburn, Volleyball [
release]
2020-21 Whitney Randall – Fort Hays State, Basketball (Winter) [
release]
Ashlan Burton – Central Missouri, Track and Field (Spring) [
release]
2019-20 Piper Misse – Pittsburg State, Cross Country (Fall) [
release]
Morgan Fleming, Central Missouri, Basketball (Winter) [
release]
2018-19 Brianna Schmitz – Emporia State, Track and Field [
watch]
2017-18 Allie Heckemeyer – Missouri Southern, Track and Field [
watch]
2016-17 Natalie O'Keefe – Southwest Baptist, Basketball/Track and Field*
2015-16 Natalie O'Keefe – Southwest Baptist, Basketball/Track and Field*
2014-15 Kate Lehman – Fort Hays State, Basketball
2013-14 Lizzy Jeronimus – Pittsburg State, Basketball*
2012-13 Kayla Shain – Central Missouri, Soccer
2011-12 Lindsay Lettow – Central Missouri, Track & Field
2010-11 Lindsay Lettow – Central Missouri, Track & Field*
2009-10 Cassondra Boston – Emporia State, Basketball
2008-09 Venessa Lee – Pittsburg State, Cross Country/Track & Field
2007-08 Michelle Stueve – Emporia State, Basketball
2006-07 Sarah Shearman – Truman State, Volleyball
2005-06 Kristin Anderson – Central Missouri, Indoor Track & Field
2004-05 Sara Murray – Truman State, Soccer
2003-04 Kate Hamera – Missouri-Rolla, Cross Country/Track & Field
2002-03 Sarah Wuertz – Emporia State, Track & Field
2001-02 Jeanette Mott – Pittsburg State, Cross Country/Track & Field
2000-01 Emily Bloss – Emporia State, Basketball
1999-20 Leslie Dudley – Pittsburg State, Basketball
1998-99 Julie Cobb – Central Missouri, Softball
Deandra Doubrava – Emporia State, Track & Field
1997-98 Nikki Olberding – Washburn, Basketball
1996-97 Deandra Doubrava – Emporia State, Volleyball/Track & Field*
1995-96 Jenny Pracht – Pittsburg State, Basketball
1994-95 Shally Lundien – Missouri Southern, Softball
1993-94 Becky Wilson – Missouri-Rolla, Cross Country/Track & Field
*Won as a Junior
(There were no awards in the Spring of 2020 and Fall of 2020 due to the COVID-19 global pandemic)
MALE WINNERS
2023-24 Mason Strader – Pittsburg State, Cross Country/Track & Field [
release]
2022-23 Ryan Stanley – Fort Hays State Track & Field [
release]
2021-22 Matt Malcom – Nebraska Kearney Wrestling [
release]
2020-21 Kizan David – Lincoln, Track and Field (Winter) [
release]
Ryan Stanley – Fort Hays State, Track and Field (Spring) [
release]
2019-20 Jace McDown – Emporia State, Football (Fall) [
release]
Levi Wyrick – Pittsburg State, Track and Field (Winter) [
release]
2018-19 Levi Wyrick – Pittsburg State, Football/Track and Field* [
watch]
2017-18 Brady Skeens – Washburn, Basketball [
watch]
2016-17 Kyle Zimmerman – Northwest Missouri, Football
2015-16 Brent Wilson – Emporia State, Football
2014-15 Chris Watson – Central Oklahoma, Wrestling
2013-14 Trevor Adams – Northwest Missouri, Football
2012-13 Brent Vogel – Central Missouri, Track and Field
2011-12 Shawn Boss – Central Missouri, Track & Field
2010-11 Jake Soy – Northwest Missouri, Football*
2009-10 Myles Burnsides – Northwest Missouri, Football
2008-09 Caleb Farabi – Pittsburg State, Football
2007-08 Nick Smart – Southwest Baptist, Football
2006-07 Ryan Meredith – Pittsburg State, Football
2005-06 Josh Lamberson – Northwest Missouri, Football
2004-05 Clint Prange – Northwest Missouri, Track & Field
2003-04 Tyler Paul – Emporia State, Football
2002-03 Mark Eori – Southwest Baptist, Tennis*
2001-02 Tucker Woolsey – Northwest Missouri, Track & Field
2000-01 Matt Meyr – Missouri Southern, Baseball
Clint Steiner – Central Missouri, Football
1999-20 Jason Reinberg – Truman State, Basketball
1998-99 Brian Moorman – Pittsburg State, Football/Track & Field
1997-98 Brian Moorman – Pittsburg State, Football/Track & Field*
1996-97 Aaron Christensen – Central Missouri, Baseball
1995-96 Michael Dritlein – Washburn, Football
1994-95 Bob Poisal – Central Missouri, Baseball
1993-94 Michael Obertop – Southwest Baptist, Tennis
*Won as a Junior
(There were no awards in the Spring of 2020 and Fall of 2020 due to the COVID-19 global pandemic)
Special Thanks to Summit Pointe Financial Group For Their Continued Sponsorship of the Ken B. Jones Award