Heart Announces 2024-25 Emil S. Liston National Scholarship Award Nominees

The Emil S. Liston Award is named in honor of the NAIA's first executive secretary, this award has been presented annually since 1950 to one men's and women's basketball player who has shown high athletic and scholastic achievement. In addition, nominees must have a GPA of 3.50 or better and have attained junior academic standings. 

The two athletes that will represent the Heart for the national award nomination are Cole Bowen of Graceland University and Avery Oetting of Culver-Stockton College.  

Oetting is an accounting major with a minor in sport management. During her time at Culver-Stockton, she was awarded the Gray Hunter Stenn LLP Outstanding Accounting Graduate Award, as a recognition for her accomplishments in the classroom. 

On the court she was selected the Heart Women's Basketball Freshman of the Year in 2022-23 and passed the 1,000 career point mark this past season. 

Bowen was named the 2024-25 Heart Men's Basketball Conference Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year for the Yellowjackets. 

He currently carries a 3.54 GPA and was named a 2024-25 NAIA Scholar-Athlete.  

Bowen and Oetting were selected to represent the Heart in this national award by the NAIA Awards Committee, which includes one athletics administrator or coach from each school in the conference.