Garrett Borcher

The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) has announced this year's male nominee for the A.O. Duer Scholarship Award, as presented by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Daktronics, is Garrett Borcher (SR/Pawnee City, Neb.). A member of the Doane football team, Borcher was selected by the faculty athletic representatives within the conference and will be in contention for the national award.

The A.O. Duer Scholarship Award is named in honor of the NAIA's former executive secretary who served the association for 26 years. This award has been annually presented since 1967 to a male and female student-athlete completing their junior season in any sport who has excelled in scholarship, character, and citizenship.

Borcher holds a high grade point average which earned him Capital One Academic All-American, NAIA Scholar-Athlete and GPAC Scholar-Athlete honors in 2014. A linebacker for the Tiger defense, he led the team in tackles last year with 96. Borcher also posted 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and one interception.

He is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society, Newman Club and the Student Education Association (SEA). Borcher has assisted the Tiger football team with their annual community service project to help clean up the Crete community.

"Garrett is a young man who is very well grounded and is an exceptional team leader," Doane Head Football Coach Matt Franzen commented. "He sets a great example for his teammates with his work ethic and also by doing things the right way and making good decisions."

Borcher has been voted "Lifter of the Year", a team captain and as "one of our toughest players" by his teammates. He will graduate in May 2016 with a degree in education.