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GRINNELL, Iowa – Ripon College senior Grace Dykstra was named the 2015-16 Ruth Peterson Award winner, while St. Norbert College senior Austin Livingston was named the 2015-16 Roy W. LeClere Award winner.  The Peterson and LeClere Awards are presented to the Midwest Conference (MWC) female and male student-athletes who posted the highest grade point averages during their junior years, while lettering in at least two sports. 

Past Award Winners

Ruth Peterson is the former Commissioner of the Midwest Athletic Conference for Women, who went on to serve as the Co-Commissioner of the MWC.  Peterson, a Beloit College alum and employee, passed away in October of 2006.  Roy W. LeClere was a collegiate sports enthusiast whose passion for the MWC led friends and co-workers to originally sponsor the award as a memorial in his honor.  Dykstra is the fourth Red Hawk to earn the Peterson Award, while Livingston is the fourth Green Knight to win the LeClere Award. 

Dykstra, a three-time Academic All-MWC selection and a Glendale, Wis. native, is a English major.  Last season at the 2015 MWC Outdoor Championships, she finished 20th in the 1,500-meter run and crossed the finish line in 110th this fall at the MWC Cross Country Championships. 

Livingston, an Appleton, Wis. native, was a College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-American last year and was named an All-Academic individual by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.  Livingston earned an All-American certificate as a part of the Green Knights’ 4x400-meter relay team that finished sixth at the NCAA Division Indoor National Championship.  At outdoor nationals, Livingston and the St. Norbert 4x400-meter relay team finished fourth, to earn another All-America accolade.