Central’s Ziskovsky Halcomb named league scholar-athlete of the year
Central College
PELLA—Former Central College track and field standout Jill Ziskovsky Halcomb (Dallas Center, Dallas Center-Grimes) is the 2010-11 Duane Schroeder Iowa Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award winner.
The honor recognizes student-athletes who have demonstrated high levels of accomplishment and achievement in athletics and academics while also serving the community. To qualify for nomination, student-athletes must have graduated or exhausted their athletic eligibility during the year the award is given, achieve a 3.5 or better cumulate grade point average (4.0 scale) and show evidence of service and leadership.
Each league institution may nominate a male and female candidate and a group of 18 conference faculty athletic representatives determine the eight finalists and two award winners.
Halcomb, a three-time team MVP and two-year captain for the Dutch, earned all-America distinction seven times. She finished fifth at the 2010 and 2011 NCAA championships in both the indoor pentathlon and outdoor pentathlon and competed on three all-America 4×400-meter relay squads, posting a second-place finish at the national outdoor meet in 2011. Halcomb also captured six league titles in four different events.
“Individualism is a theme that runs rampant in the world of track and field,” said track and field coach Joe Dunham. “The team aspect of this sport is an elusive afterthought that is often lost in the midst of individual competing to be the very best in their individual events. However, Jill had a unique way of expressing her extraordinary passion for her teammates.”
In the classroom, Halcomb compiled a 3.94 cumulate GPA with a double major in communication studies and Spanish. She received Capital One Academic All-America honors twice and was a three-time all-league pick. Halcomb was also a Central College Presidential Scholar and a member of the Alpha Zeta Mu honor society.
“I have often found that our best athletes in the competitive arena are also our best students in the classroom, and Jill is certainly no exception,” said Dennis Doyle, professor of communication studies.
“In all my experiences with her, I found her to be genuinely curious, highly motivated, and distinguished in her ability to master course content. By the time she graduated, Jill was our top student in the department and someone all professors looked to for accuracy, unique insight, and creativity. I appreciated the way she challenged herself and her classmates whether in discussions, assignments, or projects. She is a compassionate, quiet leader who brings out the best in others and inspires excellence.”
Halcomb is Central’s fourth winner of the award since its inception in 2001. Raegan Schultz Wagner (volleyball, track and field) received the honor in 2003-04 and both Adam Duerfeldt (baseball) and Katie Pederson Whipple (volleyball, track and field) were recognized in 2005-06.
