MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Derek Knetter and UW-Stevens Point's Evan Dixon (Novi, MI) have been selected co-recipients of the 2016 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Men's Ice Hockey Scholar-Athlete Award.

The award is sponsored by Badgerland Financial. Knetter, a senior from Wausau, Wis. (West), is majoring in accounting and finance and maintains a 3.82 grade point average. He is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and been recognized on UW-Eau Claire's Dean's List numerous semesters.

Knetter was the recipient of the Freshman Honors Scholarship. An assistant captain this year, Knetter recorded three goals and three assists for six points. He was a member of UW-Eau Claire's national championship squad in 2013. The Blugolds also won the WIAC title that year and Knetter helped the team claim the WIAC tournament crown in 2014. 

He is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the University Honors Program.

A senior from Novi, Mich., Dixon boasts a 3.97 grade point average and is majoring in business administration/economics. He has been acknowledged on UW-Stevens Point's Dean's List and is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. A three-year captain, Dixon helped the Pointers capture the Commissioner's Cup this season and owns six goals and five assists for 11 points. He has been named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team the last three years.

Dixon is a member of UW-Stevens Point's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

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. 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.

Badgerland Financial, headquartered in Prairie du Sac, Wis., is a customer-owned financial cooperative proud to finance the growth of agriculture and rural America. Badgerland Financial is one of the region's leading providers of credit, crop insurance, tax and accounting services to farmers, agribusinesses and rural residents. The company is committed to delivering on its vision to cultivate prosperity for agriculture and rural Wisconsin by serving member-owners through offices in 33 southern Wisconsin counties. To learn more, visit badgerlandfinancial.com.