FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, June 8, 2007

CONTACT: Ted Breidenthal 816/474-7264, ext. 119 tbreidenthal@d3independents.org www.d3independents.org

 

Jackson, Stockton Named Association of Division III Independents

Student-Athlete of the Month Award Winners for May

 

KANSAS CITY, MO.--- Sprinter Shanda Jackson of Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) and golfer Aaron Stockton of Nebraska Wesleyan University were named today as the recipients of the Association of Division III Independents Student-Athlete of the Month awards for May.

Jackson, a junior health and science major from East Orange, N.J., became the first sprinter since 2001 to repeat as NCAA Division III champion in the 100-meter dash (12.28 seconds). In addition to winning the 100 meters, Jackson also finished second in the 200-meter dash (24.94) at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Oshkosh, Wis.  Jackson's effort helped Lincoln finish fifth as a team, its highest finish since 2001. Jackson earned two more All-America honors to raise her career total to nine. She is the only sprinter in the last five years to win consecutive 55-meter dash indoor national titles and two straight 100-meter outdoor titles. 

Stockton, a senior business administration major from Bellevue, Neb., became Nebraska Wesleyan's first two-time first team All-American in team history by tying for seventh individually at the 2007 NCAA Division III Men's Golf Championships May 18 in Hamilton County, Ind.  Stockton shot a 14-over (302) during the four-day meet and led Nebraska Wesleyan to a tie for 10th place as a team. He shot four rounds of 77 or lower and shot a bogey or better on all 72 holes at the national meet to repeat a feat he also accomplished when NWU won the national title in 2006.

  

The Association of Division III Independents consists of 25 Division III independent institutions that have joined together to recognize student-athletes at independent institutions, and to provide exempted postseason championship competition in nine sports in 2006-07.  The Association recognizes outstanding athletic achievements of its student-athletes on a weekly, monthly and annual basis.  The Association provides statistical services for its members in seven sports.  In addition, it also will announce All-Independent teams at the conclusion of nine sports this year. 

All competing student-athletes from the Association’s 25 members were eligible for the award.  Each school was allowed to nominate its top performing male and female student-athletes from May.  The award recipients were selected after a vote of the Association’s Student-Athlete Recognition Committee.

More information about the Association of Division III Independents is available at http://www.d3independents.org.