Brent Vogel of the University of Central Missouri was named Tuesday as one of the three men's finalists for the Ken B. Jones Award, the highest honor handed out by the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
The award, which is in its 20th year, is named in honor of the man who served 16 years as the MIAA's first full-time commissioner. He retired in 1997 and passed away in 2004.
A 16-member panel of athletic directors, administrators, faculty members and sports information directors - one representative from each MIAA school - select the finalists. The winners for the men and women will be announced at the MIAA Awards Ceremony on June 6 at the Kansas City Public Library-Plaza Branch.
Each nominee was judged in four areas: 2012-13 athletic accomplishments, 2012-13 academic accomplishments, 2012-13 campus/community service and career athletic, academic and service achievements.
To be nominated, student athletes must also have at least a cumulative GPA of 3.00 and must have completed at least their junior season of eligibility in the 2012-13 academic year.
Vogel (Helias High School) is a two-time national champion and seven-time All-American for the Mules' track and field team who will also compete in a pair of events at the NCAA Outdoor Championships later this week.
He captured the national crown in the heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships in March with a national record of 5,760 points, thus earning him the National Field Athlete of the Year award from the United States Track and Field and Cross County Coaches Association.
Off the field, Vogel carries a 3.77 grade point average in biology. He is a three-time All-Academic honoree by the USTFCCCA, a three-time MIAA Academic Honor Roll member and a three-time MIAA Scholar-Athlete.