SALEM, Va. --- Moravian College graduate student Camille McPherson has been named as one of 20 student-athletes – 10 women and 10 men – as finalists for the 2018 Jostens Trophy presented by the Salem (Va.) Rotary Club. This is the second straight year McPherson has been a finalist.
The Jostens Trophy is a national award created by the Rotary Club of Salem to honor the most outstanding men's and women's NCAA Division III Basketball Players of the Year. The award takes into account three vital parts: basketball ability, academic prowess, and community service. The trophy models the Rotary International motto of "Service Above Self" by recognizing those who truly fit the ideal of the well-rounded NCAA Division III student-athlete. This year's class marks the 21st year the awards have been presented with the inaugural trophies bestowed in 1998. The 2018 Jostens Trophy winners will be announced on March 9 and the award will be presented on March 15 in Salem. The 20 finalists remain in the running for this season's honors from a record number of candidates in the original pool. The Rotary Club of Salem is responsible for the initial review of nominations and narrowed the collection of candidates over the past two weeks.
The Salem Rotary Club's Jostens Trophy Committee employs a numerical rating to narrow the list of finalists so that the decision can be made on the most objective basis possible. The 20 finalists continue thru the review process, with a national selection committee of 30-plus individuals charged with determining the two winners of the 2018 Jostens Trophy honors.
McPherson, a forward, helped Moravian to a 17-9 record this winter and the program's 17th consecutive postseason appearance. McPherson led the Greyhounds in scoring at 16.6 points per game, finishing her career eighth in school history with 1,427 points and first all-time with an 18.1-point per game scoring average. McPherson also topped the Hounds on the boards at 7.2 rebounds per game, and she is 16th all-time with 559 career rebounds in just 79 games with the program. McPherson added 53 assists, 39 three-pointers, 14 steals and seven blocked shots this winter while shooting 83.9 percent at the foul line (94-of-112), 43.6 percent from the floor (133-of-305) and 35.5 percent beyond the arc (39-of-110).
This winter, McPherson has already been named to the Lehigh Valley Small College Women's Basketball Team of the Year.
"To be recognized as a finalist for the Jostens Trophy in consecutive years is a huge accomplishment for Camille," stated Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk. "Her commitment to basketball has been noted on a daily basis over the course of her career, but her willingness to give back in the community and her dedication to academics is often unseen. This recognition speaks volumes about Camille's overall talent, drive and desire to excel in all phases of her life. I, along with the coaching staff and her teammates, am proud and honored to have Camille represent Moravian women's basketball."
Off of the court, McPherson maintains a 3.44 GPA as she works on her Master's in Business Administration. She completed a Bachelor's in Political Science and minors in Sociology and Spanish to go with a 3.77 GPA in May 2017. She is a three-time selection to the Landmark Conference Winter Academic Honor Roll, and she has made the Dean's List in each of her semesters at Moravian. McPherson was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America Third Team in 2017.
McPherson is also active in community service having taken part in Moravian's Play 4Kay efforts to raise money for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund the last three years including working clinics in Bethlehem and Springfield, New Jersey as well as the Cops 'n Kids program reading and mentoring elementary school students at William Penn, Thomas Jefferson and Fountain Hill Elementary Schools in Bethlehem as well as working at a Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs AAA baseball game each fall to benefit the program. McPherson has also taken part in the American Heart Association Heartwalk, Cedarbrook Nursing Home Dream Catchers events, Pathways to Santa Christmas caroling at Lehigh Valley Hospital Muhlenberg, the Buddy Walk for Special Olympics, Moravian's after school program with Marvine Elementary School, William Penn's day at Moravian, and Moravian College's Day of Service at Northeast Middle School.
To view the entire list of the 2018 Men's and Women's Jostens Trophy Finalists, visit http://www.odaconline.com/jostens/index.
