The Emil S. Liston Scholarship award recognizes academic and athletic excellence by junior student-athletes in men’s and women’s basketball. The award is named in honor of the NAIA’s first executive secretary and the prime mover behind the men’s basketball tournament. The Emil Liston Scholarship Award has been presented annually since 1950 to one junior men’s and one junior women’s basketball student-athlete who has shown high athletic and scholastic achievement.
Criteria:
- Must be certified by the registrar as having an overall GPA of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) and have attained junior standing academically.
- Selection shall be based on athletic and academic achievement.
Grace Beyer, Health Sciences & Pharmacy (Mo.)
Beyer, a native of Eagle, Wis., had quite the resume in 2021-22 in both the classroom and on the court. Athletically, she led the NAIA in points per game (32.9), total points (1,019), field goals made (298), free throws made (358), and was 12th in free throw percentage (89.1).
Additionally, she was AMC Player of the Year, All-AMC First-Team, NAIA All-American First-Team, and Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-America First-Team. She was also named AMC Player of the Week ten times.
Beyer scored at least 20 points in all but one game this season, helping the Eutectics to the AMC tournament No. 4-seed, their best seed in program history.
Beyer set new UHSP program records for most points in a single season (1,019), career points (1,973), and single-game points with 57 against McPherson (Kan.).
In the classroom, Beyer had a 3.94 GPA while majoring in pharmacy. She earned a spot on the CoSIDA Academic All-District First-Team, CoSIDA Academic All-America First-Team, and was named
CoSIDA Academic All-America of the Year.
On-campus, Beyer is class president and founder of the UHSP Outdoor Adventure’s Club, which engages the campus community in outdoor activities, campus tutor, and is also active in many organizations that advance the profession of pharmacy, including: the Student Pharmacist’s Association, where she was appointed as treasurer.
What they said:
“As a pharmacy technician at Walmart pharmacy, Grace has had the opportunity to collaborate with individuals of different cultures. In these experiences, she studied the customs and beliefs of various people. Her understanding of these differences allowed her to successfully accomplish goals and objectives related to the specific culture in relation to her duties. She exhibits many qualities that would make her a highly successful pharmacist in the future, having excellent leadership and teamwork skills in addition to extensive experiences working with people of other cultures,” Dr. David D. Allen, R.PH., PH.D., President of University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy.
“I cannot imagine a better recipient for this award. The characteristics that a student-athlete must possess to win this award, such as good character, citizenship, and leadership, can easily be seen in Grace. She is a true leader on and off the court and an excellent role model for all students and others with who she interacts,” said Jean M. Escudero, Associate Professor of Microbiology.
“To say that Grace is focused would be a serious understatement for her efforts. Not only does she put in work outside of practice to become a great basketball player, but she also works at it year-round so that when the basketball season is in full swing, she is as prepared as any player could be. The same can be said of Grace’s efforts in pursuing her Doctor of Pharmacy degree. When most students would take a lighter academic load because of their commitment to their sport and team, Grace has chosen an accelerated path to graduating with her degree. Her goal is to positively impact the lives of patients as soon as she can,” said Jill Jokerst-Harter, Director of Athletics, Fitness, & Recreation.
Beyer is now eligible for the NAIA Emil S. Liston award, which will be announced publicly during the NAIA National Awards Day in September. The winner will be presented with a certificate and recognized at an annual function in conjunction with the NAIA National Convention.
Award Release Schedule/Winners (All times are CST)
Emil S. Liston Scholarship Award (Female): Grace Beyer, Health Sciences & Pharmacy
A.O. Duer Scholarship Award (Female): June 28 – 10:00 AM
CCA Team of Character (Women): June 29 – 10:00 AM
CCA Team of Character (Men): June 29 – 1:00 PM
Coach of Character: June 30 – 10:00 AM
LeRoy Walker Champion of Character: June 30 – 1:00 PM
Athletic Trainer of the Year: July 5 - 10:00 AM
Scott Cummings AMC Sports Information Director of the Year: July 6 – 10:00 AM
Bob Burchard AMC Athletics Director of the Year: July 7 – 10:00 AM