SALEM, Va. – Roger Williams University Men's Basketball senior guard
Austin Coene (Tyngsborough, Mass.) has been announced as a finalist for the 2019 Jostens Trophy, as announced by the members of the Rotary Club of Salem (Va.).
Coene finished his career RWU's all-time leading scorer, finishing with 2,174 points. He was selected as Commonwealth Coast Conference Player of the Year as well as Commonwealth Coast Conference Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In addition, he was selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 2 First Team.
Twenty student-athletes -- 10 men and 10 women -- remain in the running for this season's honors from a stellar pool of nominees representing all eight regions of Division III men's and women's basketball.
The Jostens Trophy is awarded to the outstanding NCAA Division III men's and women's basketball players who excel on the court, in the classroom, and in the community. This season marks the 22nd presentation of the awards, with the inaugural trophies bestowed in 1998.
The Rotary Club of Salem is responsible for the initial review of nominations and narrowed the collection of candidates over the past two weeks. The Club's Jostens Trophy Committee employs a numerical rating system in determining the lists of finalists. The system ensures an objective process thru the first round of vetting. The 20 finalists continue thru the review process, with a national selection committee of 30 or more individuals charged with determining the two winners of the 2019 Jostens Trophy honors.
Listed below are the finalists for the 2019 Jostens Trophy:
| MEN'S FINALISTS |
| Ben Boots | University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh |
| Austin Coene | Roger Williams University |
| Cooper Cook | Nebraska Wesleyan University |
| Robert Duax | University of Wisconsin-Platteville |
| Nolan Ebel | Augustana College |
| Marcos Echevarria | Nichols College |
| Cam Fails | Hanover College |
| Aston Francis | Wheaton College (Ill.) |
| Sam Gabbard | UC-Santa Cruz |
| Jordan Jenkins | Willamette University |
| WOMEN'S FINALISTS |
| Lauren Bondi | Smith College |
| Emma Dorshimer | Gettysburg College |
| Hillary Hellmann | Case Western Reserve University |
| Maya Howard | DePauw University |
| Briana Moore | Bridgewater College |
| Hannah Neild | Gallaudet University |
| Victoria Pena | University of Texas at Dallas |
| Hannah Spaulding | University of St. Thomas |
| Madison Temple | Thomas More College |
| Jess Vormelker | Thiel College |
Ballots from the national selection committee are due by March 7 with the winning schools expected to be notified by March 8. The awards presentation is scheduled for Thursday, March 14 in conjunction with the NCAA Division III women's basketball semifinals and championship in Salem, Va., on March 15-16.
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The Jostens Trophy is a national award created by the Rotary Club of Salem to honor the most outstanding men's and women's NCAA Division III basketball players of the year. The award takes into account three vital parts: basketball ability, academic prowess, and community service. The trophy models the Rotary International motto of "Service Above Self" by recognizing those who truly fit the ideal of the well-rounded NCAA Division III student-athlete. This year's class marks the 22nd year the awards have been presented.
- Release courtesy of Rotary Club of Salem
