Meisner receives Albert H. Deal Scholar-Athlete Award from the MIAA
Awards by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association to the outstanding senior athletes from its member schools during the 2007-08 academic year have been announced by Commissioner David Neilson. Dustin Meisner of Olivet College has received the Albert H. Deal Scholar-Athlete Award.
Awards by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association to the outstanding senior athletes from its member schools during the 2007-08 academic year have been announced by Commissioner David Neilson.
Sarah Wittingen of Calvin College has been presented the Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Scholar-Athlete Award, while Dustin Meisner of Olivet College has received the Albert H. Deal Scholar-Athlete Award.
"Dustin and Sarah have had marvelous careers these last four years in the classroom, in the pool and on the track, and as role models in our conference. They will be missed, but their selection for these awards from such an exceptional group of nominees is an achievement for which they should take great pride," Commissioner Neilson said.
The awards recognize senior class athletes who have excelled in academics and athletics, as well as displayed outstanding leadership qualities. The awards honor two former MIAA commissioners, Albert Deal (1971-91) and Sheila Wallace Kovalchik (1991-2002).
A native of Temperance, Mich., and graduate of Erie Mason High School, Meisner was a four-time All-MIAA selection in men's swimming at Olivet. He won the 200-yard breaststroke three times during his career (2005, 2006 and 2007) and finished runner-up in the 100-yard breaststroke four times, leading the Comets to conference championships in 2006 and 2007. Meisner also competed in three NCAA Division III national championships, earning honorable mention All-American honors in 2005 and 2007.
Meisner holds the Olivet school record in the 100-yard breaststroke (:57.19) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:04.61), and also swam the breaststroke leg on two school record-setting relay teams - the 200 individual medley (1:34.09) and 400 individual medley (3:26.46) relays.
Meisner, a double major in visual arts and biology, graduated summa cum laude from Olivet in May with a 4.0 grade point average. He received the college's Donald A. Morris award, given each year to the top graduating students with the highest GPA. On campus, he was a member of the Art Alliance, Omicron Delta Kappa (a professional academic honor society), Hosford Society and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He also participated in Olivet's Service Day activities all four years in school.
Meisner was a three-time selection to the ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-America team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the first student-athlete in Olivet's history to achieve that honor. He was a third-team selection in 2006 and a first-team selection in 2007 and 2008.
Since the inception of the Al Deal Award in 2003, Meisner is the second Olivet student-athlete to receive the award. Football player Travis Sleight was the recipient of the award in 2006.
Meisner is the son of Dan and Alison Meisner.