*Story credited to the American Rivers Conference

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (January 10, 2022) – The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) announced today that former Nebraska Wesleyan track & field student-athlete Reagan Janzen has been named the A-R-C Johanna Olson Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the 2021-22 academic year, in the 22nd year of the award. The award, the highest individual honor from the conference, goes to an alumnus from the previous academic year. 
 
"Extraordinary individuals make the American Rivers Conference extraordinary," said A-R-C Commissioner Dan Hammes. "Nebraska Wesleyan's Reagan Janzen and Central's Blaine Hawkins epitomize what the American Rivers Conference and NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics is intended to represent: athletic achievement, academic excellence, character development, and a commitment to community service for the advancement of others. The willingness and sacrifice necessary to become an academic and athletic All-American, Elite 90 award recipient, or Gagliardi Trophy winner -  while never losing one's perspective or sense of priority as to what's important in life - is something to celebrate. I congratulate Reagan and Blaine on being selected by our Faculty Athletic Representatives for the highest honor that the Conference can bestow."
 
Janzen is a three-time All-American, 11-time A-R-C Champion, and six-time USTFCCCA Midwest All-Region honoree. She was All-American individually in the 800-meter race at the 2022 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championship when she earned eighth place. Her 4x400 relay team earned All-American status at the 2021 outdoor championship and 2022 indoor championship. She was honored as a NCAA Woman of the Year Top 30 Honoree earlier this fall. The Giltner, Nebraska native currently holds the indoor and outdoor records in the 800-meter race. The indoor 4x800 relay team Janzen was a part of also holds the school record. 
 
Academically, Janzen was the Elite 90 Award Recipient at the 2022 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships. Janzen earned the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship following graduation at Nebraska Wesleyan. She completed a summer internship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota during the summer of 2021. Janzen was among fifty other junior nursing students selected to participate from applicants all across the world. She graduated with a 4.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale while majoring in Nursing. 
 
Her community service included volunteering at high school meets that were hosted at NWU, and served as a new student orientation ambassador. She also was involved with NWU's Relay for Life event, a member of the Willard Sorority, and assembled and donated blankets annually for a local hospital. Janzen was a member of the Prairie Wolf Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
 
This is the fourth consecutive year that a Nebraska Wesleyan student-athlete has earned the Scholar-Athlete of the award. Janzen follows Aspen Rolfes (2020-21), Andy Valquez (2019-20), and Elizabeth Jones (2018-19), who are all former track and field student-athletes. 
 
What They Say About Reagan Janzen
 
Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Ted Bulling: "During my career, I have been blessed to work with many outstanding scholar-athletes who have achieved academically and athletically at very high levels. I can confidently say however that Reagan Janzen has combined leadership skills, academic success and athletic prowess in a way that puts her at the very top of that list."
 
Assistant Professor of Nursing Jennifer Eilts, MSN, RN: "The growth and achievement I witnessed in her academic and clinical performance was impressive and always highly commendable. Ms. Janzen took on every challenge with an admirable amount of determination, persistence, positivity, and leadership. During her time as a college student, Ms. Janzen made an impact on patients through her work as a Nurse Intern at Mayo Clinic and as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in both long-term and home health care settings. As a recently licensed Registered Nurse, Ms. Janzen's strong intellectual curiosity, integrity, and compassionate delivery of care benefit her clients at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota."
 
Assistant Professor of Nursing Kristi McGuire, MSN, RN: "Reagan was always striving to be the best version of herself. She faced adversity with grace and persistence. I was Reagan's clinical instructor during her intensive care rotation. The first week Reagan showed up with a welcoming smile and cheerful outlook and won over the facility. She took every opportunity to get to know the patients and their families and provide them the best care possible. Unfortunately, Reagan suffered a significant fracture of her foot during this clinical rotation and had to end her experience early. However, not before she made it through an entire 12-hour clinical shift with a walking boot on. She never complained and only took breaks from her patients when I insisted. She never wanted to miss a learning experience, and her willpower was remarkable."
 
Also nominated for the 2021-22 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year were Central Volleyball & Track and Field athlete Krissa Larson, Loras Track and Field athlete Elayna Bahl, and Wartburg Volleyball player Katelyn Foster.
 
The Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year is selected among the finalists by a vote of the A-R-C Faculty Representatives (FAR).