Graceland University

The Graceland University chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society, inducted 12 new members April 20. Graceland's chapter - the Alpha Phi Upsilon chapter - was founded recently, and these 12 new members are part of the inaugural class. Sigma Tau Delta was founded in 1924 to confer distinction for high achievement in English language, literature and writing; and to foster literacy and all aspects of the discipline of English. With over 850 chapters across the U.S. and abroad, Sigma Tau Delta is the most active honors organization in the field and one of the largest members of the Association of College Honor Societies. Candidates for Sigma Tau Delta must have a strong interest in the study of English, an overall grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and at least 12 credits (semester hours) in English with an average of at least a 3.0 GPA or better.

Each spring, Graceland University honors the student-athletes who have stood out throughout the year at the annual Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Banquet.

Randallyn Smith has been awarded the 2018-19 McCullagh Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to an upcoming senior English major with a minimum GPA of 3.2 who has contributed to the Graceland community in the form of student leadership. In addition to Randallyn's academic achievements in English, she was selected due to the leadership she provided as the 2017-18 Chaplain President and her work with the Graceland Honors Program.

The Graceland University chapter of the international economics honor society Omicron Delta Epsilon inducted nine new members April 20 on the Lamoni, Iowa, campus. Omicron Delta Epsilon is an international honor society in economics, with chapters at 690 universities in countries all around the globe. The society's primary objectives have been to recognize outstanding scholastic achievement in economics and to establish closer ties between students and faculty in economics at colleges and universities. Candidates must have a strong interest in the study of economics, an overall grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, and at least 12 credits (semester hours) in economics with an average of at least a 3.0 GPA or better.

Haley Johnson, assisted by Andrew Dipoto, is the winner of the Irene Ryan Scholarship Contest - first nationally of over 2,000 contestants! Haley also won an internship with the National New Play Network and is the co-winner of the Mark Twain Comic Performance Award.

Dakota Buttrey was named the Heart of America Player of the Week for the first time this spring following her stellar performance in the batter's box. The honor is for the week of April 16-22, during which time Buttrey played in all 12 of the Yellowjackets' contests in the outfield. Buttrey helped guide the Yellowjackets to a 7-5 week. She hit 0.432 with a slugging percentage of 0.886. She compiled 19 hits including six home runs and two doubles. She drove in 15 RBI and scored 14 runs. "Dakota is the spark that ignites our offense," said Todd Verwers, head coach. "Not your traditional leadoff hitter but her productivity and power warrants getting her that extra at-bat each game. A great defensive player as well, Dakota is one of our most versatile players." The week started off with Buttrey producing a two-run home run in game one against Haskell Indian Nationals University and in game two against Clarke University. She then came up key to give the Yellowjackets the lead in the fourth inning of game two of the Benedictine College doubleheader with a grand slam. She also hit a three-run home run to end game two against Mount Mercy University. The week also featured Buttrey setting a couple of school records. She became the single-season home-run leader and the career home-run record holder. On the year, Buttrey is hitting 0.389 with a team-leading 42 total hits, including 12 home runs.

The Heart of America Athletic Conference named Graceland University Wrestling student-athletes among the 2018 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) NAIA All-Academic Individuals.

Axl Parra was named the Heart of America Pitcher of the Week for the third time this spring following his stellar performance on the mound last week, April 16-22. This is his third time earning pitcher of the week honors, having earned it for the first time the week of Feb. 5-11, and the second time the week of March 12-18. Parra pitched in one of the Yellowjackets four games over the weekend, giving Graceland their lone win (1-0) in the series against Mount Mercy University. Parra pitched a complete game in his lone appearance of the week. The start marked his fifth complete game of the year along with his fifth win of the year. Parra was dominant throughout the game. He struck out 11 batters in the inning, allowed six hits and no walks. On the year, he has compiled 54 innings of work to go along with 80 strikeouts. He has allowed only 14 earned runs all year for a 2.33 ERA.

Graceland University Men's Volleyball's Dalton Forbes was named a 2018 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status.

The Heart of America Athletic Conference named Graceland University Men's Volleyball student-athletes among the 2018 All-Heart Conference selections, selected by the Heart coaches.

Lexus Lovan qualified for the National Outdoor track and field meet at the Baker Relays Saturday, March 31. Lovan led all Graceland athletes at the meet with her "B" Standard national qualifying leap in the long jump. She leaped 5.62 meters on her second leap to qualify and win the event.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) named Graceland University Men's Basketball's Jeremy Deemer as a 2017-18 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete. In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced that 143 Division I women's basketball student-athletes have been named to the 2017-18 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete Team and includes student-athletes from Graceland University. In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, must appear on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended two full years as a non-transfer or one full year as a transfer student.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced Graceland University student-athletes among the 2018 NAIA Division I Men's Basketball All-America teams. Players were selected by the NAIA-Men's Basketball Coaches Association All-America Committee. Each team - first, second and third - consists of 10 individuals.

A historic season for Graceland University Men's Basketball came to a close Tuesday, March 20, when the team hoisted the national championship trophy of the 81st Annual NAIA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship at Municipal Auditorium. Graceland became the first team from the state of Iowa to win the national championship in the event's history in an 83-80 overtime victory over Louisiana State University-Alexandria.

Axl Parra was named the Heart of America Pitcher of the Week for the second time this spring following his stellar performance on the mound last week. Parra was named Heart Pitcher of the Week for the week of March 12 through 18. This is his second time earning Pitcher of the Week honors, having earned it for the first time the week of Feb. 5-11. Parra pitched in one of the Yellowjackets four games of the week, helping Graceland split a two-game series with Avila University. Parra pitched a complete game in his lone appearance of the week. The start marked his fourth complete game of the year along with his fourth win of the year. Parra was dominant throughout the game. He struck out five of the first seven batters he faced. His lone blemish was in the top of the third, when he gave up a two-run home run. He finished the game with 15 strikeouts - a new school record - three hits and no walks. On the year, he has compiled 39 innings of work to go along with 63 strikeouts. He has allowed only five earned runs all year for a 1.15 ERA.

Phi Alpha Theta, founded in 1921, is the National History Honor Society for four-year colleges and universities. Graceland University has had an active chapter since 1967 and is pleased to recognize its new members.

Alpha Chi National College Honor Society is one of the nation's most distinctive interdisciplinary honor societies. Invitations are only given to juniors, seniors and graduate students who are in the top 10 percent of their class. Alpha Chi members have been "making scholarship effective for good" since 1922. Graceland University is excited to recognize its students who have been recognized for this accomplishment.

The Alma and Kathryn Blair Historical Award is awarded by the Department of History for the best paper written in the History Senior Seminar. The students in this year's seminar produced particularly excellent papers, and for the first time in the history of the award, the history faculty decided to recognize three students for the quality of their writing and research.

The History and Political Science faculty give the International Studies Area Award to the International Studies major who best demonstrates academic excellence and who has had an outstanding study abroad experience. This year's recipient is Jessica Hypatidis.

The Department of History gives out the area award to the history major who best demonstrates academic excellence and service to the the Graceland Department of History. This year's recipient is Cooper Collier.

Graceland University men's basketball team made history by claiming their first-ever Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament crown.

The Heart of America Athletic Conference named Graceland University Men's Basketball student-athletes among the 2018 All-Heart Conference selections, selected by the Heart coaches.

Graceland University senior center Jeremy Deemer was named to the 2017-18 Academic All-District, District Three, College Division Basketball Team, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Two Graceland University women's basketball student-athletes garnered All-Heart of America Athletic Conference accolades for the 2017-18 season.

Following a national qualifying leap in the long jump Saturday at the Last Chance Meet hosted by Waldorf College, Graceland University's Lexus Lovan was named the Heart of America Athletic Conference field athlete of the week. "We are really excited to have Lexus Lovan be our Heart Athlete of the week," remarked head coach Jordon Andreassen. "She has been working hard this season and persevered over many obstacles that have come her way. I am excited to see how she does at nationals in the long jump!" Lovan qualified for Nationals in long jump with her "A" Standard leap of 5.55 meters to claim first out of 18 athletes. She also marked a first-place finish in the 60-meter dash with her time of 7.93 seconds. Lovan will compete at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships March 1-3 in Pittsburg, KS.

Graceland University Track and Field competed at the 2018 Heart Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships, where eight student-athletes received all-conference recognition in 12 events.

(Feb. 12, 2018) Junior second baseman Eric Morales earned the Heart of America Player of the Week following his performance with Graceland University Baseball over the weekend. "Eric had a great weekend and seemed to just get better in tight situations," remarked Brady McKillip, head coach. "His homerun with two outs and two on base in the 7th inning of game three, giving us the lead, was as clutch as it gets. I am very excited to see what he can do over the course of the year." Over the course of three games, Eric went 6-for-10 from the plate to hit 0.600 percent for the weekend. He counted double and a two-run home run, driving in a total of four runs.

(Feb. 12, 2018) Axl Parra was named the Heart of America Pitcher of the Week following his stellar performance on the mound Friday. "Axl truly picked up where he left off last year with this start," said Brady McKillip, head coach. "I couldn't be happier for him as he begins his senior campaign, he has the ability to make it something special." Parra pitched the first game of the season for the Yellowjackets against Ecclesia College. Parra pitched a complete game shutout, allowing three hits. Of the 23 batters he faced, Parra struck out 14, walking just one.

The Graceland University men's basketball program has earned a top 25 national ranking in the NAIA Division I national poll for the second consecutive season and just the second time in program history. The first DI national ranking in program history was last season in head coach Craig Doty's first season. Graceland enters the poll at No. 24. Graceland has posted some major wins in the 2017-18 season to bring them to this point. The Yellowjackets resume includes a road victory over then-ranked No. 1 William Penn University (81-77); a home victory over then-No. 9 Central Methodist University (79-68); exhibition road win over the 2016 NCAA DII national champions, Augustana University - Sioux Falls (93-81); and a win over nationally ranked NAIA DII Governors State University (98-58).