CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced today the five female and six male nominees for its 2024-25 Johanna Olson and Duane Schroeder Scholar-Athletes of the Year Awards. Former Coe College student-athlete Alex Aitchison was named in the release, representing Coe in the male nominations. 
 
The nominees for the Johanna Olson A-R-C Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year are former Central College track & field and cross country student-athlete Addison Parrott, former Loras College volleyball and track & field student-athlete Sara Hoskins, former Luther College basketball student-athlete Kailey Jones, former Nebraska Wesleyan University track & field student-athlete Avery Decker, former Simpson College soccer and track & field student-athlete Madison Hayes, and former Wartburg College basketball student-athlete Jaedon Murphy. 
 
The Duane Schroeder A-R-C Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominees are former Central College basketball and track & field student-athlete Kaleb Brand, former Coe College football student-athlete Alex Aitchison, former University of Dubuque track & field student-athlete Otis Patterson, former Luther College soccer and swimming & diving student-athlete Jack Bell, former Nebraska Wesleyan University soccer student-athlete Zach Weis, and former Wartburg College football student-athlete Ben Bryant. 
 
This year's nominees move before the Scholar-Athlete Recommendation Committee, comprised of three Faculty Athletic Representatives and three Athletic Communication Directors. The Scholar-Athlete Recommendation Committee will select a maximum of three male and three female finalists. The Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year are selected from among the finalists by a vote of the A-R-C Faculty Athletic Representative. 
 
The finalists will be announced on December 17, 2025. The Scholar-Athletes of the Year will be announced on January 7, 2026.  
 
Alex Aitchison | Football
Aitchison was a successful football student-athlete for the Kohawks. His defensive efforts ranked among the best in the conference and nationally during his career. He earned AP and D3football.com All-American honors, as well as being a four-time all-conference performer. 
 
In the classroom, Aitchison maintained a 3.897 cumulative grade point average while majoring in kinesiology and minoring in education. He earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-American honors twice during his career after being named to All-District on three occasions. He earned American Rivers All-Academic four times during his career. 
 
In leadership and community service roles, Aitchison was a three-year football team captain. He took part in Read Across America Day, the Cedar Rapids residential tree program, Cascade Pride Days, and derecho recovery and clean-up. He consistently volunteered at youth sport camps and summer camps. 
 
John Chandler, Coe College Associate Professor of Kinesiology: "Alex was a team captain for three years in our football program, which is quite unusual. The respect he has from players and coaches goes well beyond his success on the playing field. Alex has led both verbally and by physical example with the football team, and the results were very apparent. In game after game on the football field the past five years, his leadership came forward at critical moments and helped Coe to achieve victory. This is the kind of leadership that is not seen often, and many times, it can make the difference between success and failure."
 
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