VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The North Star Athletic Association announced the nominees to the 2021 NAIA National Awards and two Valley City State University athletes were recognized.

Hunter Sand was listed as a nominee for the Emil S. Liston award. The award is in honor of the NAIA’s first executive secretary and the prime mover behind the men’s basketball tournament. This award has been presented anually since 1950 to one junior men’s and women’s basketball player who has shown high athletic and scholastic achievement.

Angeline Gannon was recognized as a Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award Nominee. This award was created to honor Dr. LeRoy Walker, a former president of the NAIA and President emeritus of the United States Olympic Committee. It recognizes a current student-athlete with at least a junior academic status who has demonstrated outstanding achievement, campus and community leadership embracing the five core character values of the NAIA Champions of Character initiative, athletic achievement, and future ambition.