Kansas City , Mo. - Avila University recently announced the 2008 A.O. Duer and Emil S. Liston Award nominees. Each college and university in the Heart of America Athletic Conference selects one candidate for each award and submits it to the NAIA national office for consideration for the national award.

Douglas E. Wendel, an Avila junior majoring in secondary education-mathematics and member of the Avila football team, was selected as the A. O. Duer award nominee.

Ashley L. Townsend, an Avila junior majoring in accounting and a member of the women's basketball team, was selected as the Emil S. Liston award nominee.

The A.O. Duer Award is named in honor the NAIA's former executive secretary for his service to the NAIA.  This award emphasizes the NAIA policy of scholarship in athletic programs and is presented annually to a junior men's and women's student athlete of any sport who has a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.75 on a 4.0 scale and is a member of a NAIA intercollegiate athletic team.

The Emil S. Liston Award is named in honor of Emil Liston who was the prime mover behind the NAIA's basketball tournament.  This award is presented annually to a junior men's and women's basketball player who has shown athletic and scholastic achievement. Nominees must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.

For more information on these nominees please contact Mike Sharpe, athletic director, at 816.501.3634.

Avila University is a private, co-educational, values-based liberal arts institution founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and is located at 119th and Wornall Rd in southwest suburban Kansas City, Mo. Avila offers undergraduate, graduate and adult degree programs.

###

###