MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Jordan Lijewski has been named recipient of the 2022 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Men's Indoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete Award.
 
A senior from Roseville, Minn. (Roseville), Lijewski is majoring in accounting and finance with a minor in marketing and sustains a 3.79 grade point average. He was named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team in 2018, 2020 and 2021. Lijewski is a four-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and been recognized on UW-Eau Claire's Dean's List numerous semesters, as well as receiving Academic Distinction.
 
He helped the Blugolds' 4x400-meter relay team to a first-place finish at this year's WIAC Championship, as well as the 2020 championship. The 2020 squad established a conference meet record. Lijewski is a two-time All-American in the 4x400-meter relay, including a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Championship in 2018. He is also a two-time All-Region selection. A team captain for the 2021 season, he was selected the team's Newcomer of the Year in 2018.
 
Lijewski is a member of his institution's Financial Management Association and served as a finance tutor during the 2019-20 academic year. He has also served as a Site Director for an area basketball league.
 
Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-La Crosse's Ethan Thompson (Fr., Waunakee, Wis./Waunakee); UW-Oshkosh's Mitchell Bradford (Jr., Owego, Ill./Oswego); UW-Platteville's Bryce Bierman (Sr., Reedsburg, Wis./Reedsburg); UW-River Falls' Caleb Venzke (Sr., Tomahawk, Wis./Tomahawk); UW-Stevens Point's Jared Schrang (Sr., Oconomowoc, Wis./Oconomowoc); and UW-Stout's Jacob Bugella (Sr., Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake).
 
The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger, who served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference for 22 years from 1971-93. He oversaw the transition of the conference from NAIA to full NCAA membership. Sparger arrived at UW-Stout in 1959 and served the institution in a variety of capacities, including an assistant football and basketball coach, head wrestling coach and head football coach. He served as UW-Stout's athletics director from 1969-71 and was inducted into the WIAC Hall of Fame in 2012.
 
In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average. In addition, he must be in his last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years. The award is based on academic achievements, athletics accomplishments and involvement in other campus activities, organizations and community service projects.