FARGO, N.D.--North Dakota State University student-athletes and cheer team members were awarded the "ND State" letter and corresponding green, trimmed in yellow and green, varsity jacket at the NDSU Letter Award Ceremony held Wednesday, Nov. 12, in the Ballroom of NDSU's Memorial Union.
 
The Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) reintroduced the varsity letter jacket last year with a goal carrying on the storied tradition and history established in the early 1900's. The Letterman's Club was formed in 1922 when John Lee Coulter was president and Stanley Borleske was athletic director of the North Dakota Agricultural College.
 
"The most recognizable image of a former North Dakota State University student-athlete is the letter jacket. It symbolizes the hard-work, dedication and sacrifice of our student-athletes during their years of competition as a Bison. This longstanding tradition preserves our storied past and honors the athletic alumni that forged the strong foundation and culture that is synonymous with NDSU athletics," said NDSU director of athletics Matt Larsen.
 
Eighty-one NDSU student-athletes were presented letter jackets by their respective head coaches in one of the Bison sixteen varsity sports or as a cheer team member.

The criteria for earning a letter jacket includes:

• Complete the season as an academically eligible member in good standing on the team;
• Meet the criteria for earning a letter of their respective sport as defined by the head coach. This may include respective team rules, policies, conduct expectations, and academic standards;

• Under extraordinary circumstances such as injury or illness, a student-athlete may receive a letter jacket upon recommendation from the coach;
• A senior in eligibility may be recommended by the coach to receive a letter jacket.

Symbolic of an athlete's commitment and dedication to their sport and academics, the style of the letter winner jacket has evolved over time, but its meaning has not.  Proud letter winner alumni can be spotted at NDSU athletic events sporting their well-worn jacket filled with a sense of Bison Pride.
 
"A NDSU letterman's jacket is an honor bestowed upon Bison athletes who have met the lettering standards set by their coaches," said Landin Rognlin, president of the NDSU SAAC. He is a senior javelin thrower from Fargo. "Earning a letter is a feat to be celebrated as it represents the commitment and devotion to success that the athletes have shown. It is a reward for the sacrifices they have made in order to succeed at a high level."
 
A video entitled "Bison Nation", the singing of the "Yellow and the Green" and the school fight song, "On Bison", added to the evening's event.

"ND State" Letter Winner Jacket Recipients
Baseball
Chris Choles
Kevin Folman
Trent Keefer
Luke Lind
Danny Palmiscno
Ben Petersen
Reed Pfannenstein
Sean Terres
 
Men's Basketball
Carlin Dupree
Dexter Werner
 
Women's Basketball
Hannah Breske
Brooke LeMar
Emily Spier
Brittany Wiebe
 
Cheer Team
Jacob Brannan
Michael Farrenkopf
MacKenzie Keidel
MacKenzie McCormick
Adam Russell
 
Football
Luke Albers
Brad Ambrosius
Nick DeLuca
Pierre Gee-Tucker
Landon Lechler
Bo Liekhus
Chase Morlock
Andrew Nack
Eric Perkins
Jack Plankers
Andrew Smith
Carey Woods
 
Men's Golf
Ursi Puga
Kyle Jandro
 
Women's Golf
Emma Kusick
Alex Schmid
Cassie Wurm
 
Soccer
Natalie Fenske
Lauren Miller
Olivia Norman
Tori Veth
Amy Yang
 
Softball
Dani Renner
Katie Thun

Men's Track and
Field/Cross Country
Brian Blasey
Loren Bothun
Lucas DeGree
Dalton Herding
Matt Jennings
Beau Kashmark
Grant Mjelstad
Matt Neururer
Colin Paarmann
Alex Renner
Angus Stoudt
Jonah Warwick

Women's Track and
Field/Cross Country
Amy Andrushko
Christina Bruenjes 
Jamie Drevlow
Ann Govig
Jenny Guibert
Deidre Hahn
Rose Jackson
Taylor Janssen
Allie Lahren
Morgan Milbrath
Courtney Pasiowitz
Ashlynn Simon
Brittany Stangl
Jordyn Thornton
Katelyn Weimerskirch
 
Wrestling
Clay Cathey
Justin LaValle
Tyler Lehmann
Nick Olejnik
Hunter Weber
 
Volleyball
Monica Claxton
Hannah Jessen
Emily Milligan
Emily Minnick
Emily Miron
Hadley Steffen