NDSU senior A.J. Jacobson has been named one of 10 finalists for the 2017-18 Senior CLASS Award in men’s basketball.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. Jacobson, previously chosen as one of 30 candidates for the award, advanced to be one of 10 finalists.
Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to submit votes online at the Senior CLASS Award website through March 19. Fan votes will be combined with those of the media and Division I head coaches to determine the award recipient.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
Jacobson is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, earning first-team honors as a junior and third-team honors as a sophomore. He was voted to the Summit League Academic All-League team following each of the past three seasons and is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree and three-time NABC Honors Court honoree. Jacobson graduated with his bachelor's degree in zoology following his junior season in May 2017 and has begun a Master of Business Administration program. Following his collegiate career, he will enter dental school.
Jacobson has volunteered in numerous community events, including school visits, hospital visits and youth events and has been involved in North Dakota Special Olympics. Along with his teammates, he has participated in several service events each year, including volunteering at a homeless shelter on Thanksgiving, serving food at a charity event and teaching special-needs children to ride bikes.
The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2018 NCAA Men’s Final Four in San Antonio, Texas, this spring.
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