Ron Paulsen Memorial Award
Each year, the Ron Paulsen Memorial Award is presented to a female and male student-athlete selected by the Bethel University Athletic Department. This award is given in memory of a former student and member of the 1968-69 men's basketball team. In 1972, 22-year-old Ron Paulsen died in an automobile accident near his home in Franklin, Nebraska. A high school all-state selection in both football and basketball, Ron attended Bethel from 1968-1971. While here, he participated in varsity soccer and basketball and served in numerous co-curricular capacities on campus.
Moved by his death, the friends of Ron Paulsen established a memorial in the form of an annual athletic grant award. The goal of this award is both to recognize a student-athlete who exemplifies the values of Pilot athletics as well as to pay tribute to a former classmate and friend. The Ronald D. Paulsen Grant has become the most prestigious athletic award at Bethel University.
Nominees for this award are evaluated on the basis of athletic involvement, character, leadership, and involvement in the social and academic programs of the college. In addition to receiving a financial award and an individual plaque, the recipients will also have their name engraved on the permanent trophy that is kept on display in the athletic department.
Award Winners
1972-73: James Boyd, Jr. - Men's Soccer, Baseball
1973-74: Roberto Smith - Men's Soccer
1974-75: Dave Franklin - Men's Soccer, Baseball
1975-76: Dean Weirich - Men's Basketball
1976-77: KJ Stanage - Men's Soccer, Baseball
1976-77: Women's Athletics
1977-78: Steve Brown - Men's Basketball
1978-79: Kim Warren - Women's Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Softball
1979-80: Daryl Ernest - Men's Soccer
1980-81: Greg Thomas - Men's Basketball
1981-82: Lori Wulliman - Women's Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Softball
1982-83: Goodman Investment, North Baskets
1983-84: Wayne Quigley - Men's Soccer
1984-85: Chris Allsop - Women's Basketball, Softball
1984-85: Lorri Massing - Women's Vollyball, Women's Basketball, Softball
1985-86: Lance Nothstine - Baseball
1986-87: Mike Elliot - Baseball
1986-87: Steve Hosinski - Baseball
1987-88: Vince Ganzber, Men's Soccer
1987-88: Larry Fielstra - Men's Basketball
1988-89: Tom Molnar - Baseball
1988-89: Lori Rose - Women's Basketball, Softball
1989-90: Todd Crist - Men's Basketball
1989-90: Ken Black - Men's Soccer
1990-91: Debbie Hesch - Women's Volleyball
1990-91: Mike Miller - Baseball
1990-91: Fred Hershberger - Men's Basketball
1991-92: Scott Reese - Baseball
1992-93: Brad Fish - Men's Basketball
1993-94: Lisa Edison - Women's Tennis
1994-95: Tom Gamble - Men's Soccer
1995-96: Cristian Mihut - Men's Soccer
1996-97: Julia Reininga - Women's Volleyball
1997-98: Seth Zartman - Baseball
1998-99: Hope Lawson - Women's Volleyball, Women's Basketball
1999-00: Tonia Habeck - Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
2000-01: April Allison - Women's Volleyball, Softball
2001-02: Tim Ritter, Men's Basketball
2002-03: Shallon Bowden - Women's Basketball
2003-04: David Keister - Men's Basketball
2004-05: Chastity Zellers - Women's Basketball
2005-06: Kyle Sears - Men's Basketball
2005-06: Erica Young - Women's Track & Field
2006-07: Geoff King - Men's Track & Field
2007-08: Brandon Grudda - Men's Soccer
2007-08: Hannah Richards - Women's Basketball
2008-09: Kory Lantz - Men's Basketball
2008-09: Shanna Page - Women's Golf
2009-10: Ryne Lightfoot - Men's Basketball
2009-10: Mandy Cripe - Softball
2010-11: Ethan Reichenbach - Men's Soccer
2010-11: Carlie Dunbar - Women's Basketball
2011-12: Matt Owens - Men's Basketball
2011-12: Holly Weaver - Softball
2012-13: Joao Cuoto - Men's Soccer
2012-13: Laura Johnson - Women's Basketball
2013-14: James Agler - Men's Track & Field
2013-14: Morgan Fox - Women's Volleyball
2014-15: Zach Miller - Men's Basketball
2014-15: Natalie Newell - Softball
2015-16: Lukas Muszong - Men's Soccer
2015-16: Katie Holdren - Women's Golf
2016-17: Joel Hartman - Men's Cross Country, Men's Track & Field
2016-17: Grace Smithberger - Women's Soccer
2017-18: Gage Ott - Men's Basketball
2017-18: Taylor Russell - Women's Golf
2018-19: Finn Luben - Men's Soccer
2018-19: Katie Easter - Women's Volleyball
2019-20: Bailey Mott - Men's Track & Field
2019-20: Jessica Duvall - Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
2020-21: Willian dos Santos - Men's Soccer
2020-21: Emma Mott - Women's Cross Country, Women's Track & Field
2021-22: Corey Jones - Men's Track & Field
2021-22: Katie Blauw - Women's Golf
2022-23: Madyson Beaver - Women's Volleyball
2022-23: Life Granville - Men's Basketball
2022-23: Vivienne Kunkler - Women's Swimming and Dive
2023-24: Maddy Payne - Women's Volleyball
2023-24: Drew Lutz - Men's Basketball
