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13 Bulldogs Earn Myles Brand Academic Honors from NSIC

13 University of Minnesota Duluth Division II senior student athletes – Grace Daak (Volleyball), Lauren Dixon (Softball), Chloey Evans (Track & Field), Ella Gilbertson (Basketball), Julia Gronholz (Softball), Justin Hull (Football), Jackie Jares (Soccer), Ethan Jauquet (Football), Jack Middleton (Basketball), Lauryn Renier (Track & Field/Cross Country), Ted Rogers (Track & Field), Cianna Selbitschka (Volleyball) – representing eight sports, have earned a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award for 2023-2024.

UMD Bulldogs "ALLETE" Moments: Classroom
Throughout this year, UMD Athletics is partnering with Minnesota Power, ALLETE to highlight the Bulldogs accomplishments in the 3 C's: Classroom, Competition, Community. 

13 University of Minnesota Duluth Division II senior student athletes – Grace Daak (Volleyball), Lauren Dixon (Softball), Chloey Evans (Track & Field), Ella Gilbertson (Basketball), Julia Gronholz (Softball), Justin Hull (Football), Jackie Jares (Soccer), Ethan Jauquet (Football), Jack Middleton (Basketball), Lauryn Renier (Track & Field/Cross Country), Ted Rogers (Track & Field), Cianna Selbitschka (Volleyball), 
Lucas Selman  (Track & Field/Cross Country) – representing eight sports, have earned a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award for 2023-2024.

The honor, named for the late NCAA President Dr. Myles Brand, is bestowed upon senior NSIC student-athletes who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher, are exhausting their eligibility, and are on track to graduate after the season.

258 student-athletes from the conference's 15 member institutions received the Myles Brand award, which is in its 15th year of existence.

Dr. Myles N. Brand, visionary leader, educator and reformer, served as the President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) from 2003-2009. He passed away in September 2009 at the age of 67 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Brand presided over passage of the most comprehensive academic reform package for intercollegiate athletics in recent history – a package that refocused the attention of student-athletes, coaches and administrators on the education of student-athletes. Brand also changed the national dialog on college sports to emphasize the educational value of athletics participation and the integration of intercollegiate athletics with the academic mission of higher education. His impact on Division II ran deep by implementing an identity campaign and a strategic-positioning platform tied to specific divisional attributes. He challenged Division II to continue its game environment and community engagement focus, and improve academic success rates.

The Bulldogs were just one off the record – UMD's record for NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award recipients was 14 set in 2021.

Name - Sport - Hometown - Major(s)

Grace Daak -  Volleyball  - Hutchinson, Minn. -  Biology

Lauren Dixon  - Softball -  Sobieski, Wis.  - Chemical Engineering

Chloey Evans  - Track & Field -  Melrose, Minn.  - Exercise Rehab Science

Ella Gilbertson  - Basketball -  Lake Zurich, Ill.  - Communication Sciences & Disorders

Julia Gronholz -  Softball  - Victoria, Minn. Biomedical Sciences

Justin Hull  - Football  - West Chicago, Ill. -  Civil Engineering

Jackie Jares  - Soccer -  Muskego, Wis.  - Chemical Engineering

Ethan Jauquet  - Football  - Muskego, Wis.  - Mechanical Engineering

Jack Middleton  - Basketball -  Edina, Minn.  - Finance

Lauryn Renier  - Track & Field/Cross Country  - Oronoco, Minn.  - Biology

Ted Rogers  - Track & Field  - Blaine, Minn.  - Finance & Mgmt./Information Systems

Cianna Selbitschka -  Volleyball  - North Branch, Minn.  - Exercise Rehab Science

Lucas Selman  - Track/CC  - Minneapolis, Minn.   - Physical Education

About Minnesota Power, ALLETE:
Our bold vision centers on our commitment to climate, customers and communities. We're a clean-energy leader under our EnergyForward strategy, already delivering 50% renewable energy ahead of all other Minnesota utilities. Now we're doubling down on that with a vision to deliver 100% carbon-free energy to customers reliably and affordably by 2050. Learn more at: https://www.mnpower.com/CarbonFreeEnergyVision

Players Mentioned

Lauren Dixon

P
5' 6"
Junior
L/L

Julia Gronholz

IF
5' 9"
Junior
R/R

Justin Hull

OL
6' 3"
Redshirt Senior

Ethan Jauquet

OL
6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore

Jackie Jares

F
5' 7"
Senior

Grace Daak

MB
6' 3"
Senior

Cianna Selbitschka

OH
5' 10"
Senior

Jack Middleton

G
6' 5"
Graduate Student

Ella Gilbertson

G/F
6' 0"
Senior

Chloey Evans

Sprints
Senior

Players Mentioned

Lauren Dixon

5' 6"
Junior
L/L
P

Julia Gronholz

5' 9"
Junior
R/R
IF

Justin Hull

6' 3"
Redshirt Senior
OL

Ethan Jauquet

6' 4"
Redshirt Sophomore
OL

Jackie Jares

5' 7"
Senior
F

Grace Daak

6' 3"
Senior
MB

Cianna Selbitschka

5' 10"
Senior
OH

Jack Middleton

6' 5"
Graduate Student
G

Ella Gilbertson

6' 0"
Senior
G/F

Chloey Evans

Senior
Sprints

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