28 Fall Student-Athletes Named to Daktronics Scholar Athlete List

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the 2024 Daktronics NAIA Fall Scholar-Athletes. This award recognizes student-athletes in football, men's cross country, men's soccer, women's cross country, women's soccer and women's volleyball who have excelled academically. 28 Montana Western athletes made the list.

To qualify as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete, students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, appear on the eligibility certificate for their sport, and have attended their institution for at least one full year.

2025-26 Daktronics NAIA Scholar Athletes - Football

Aedan Baker, DB (Challis, Idaho / R-SO)

Arie McLaughlin, DL (Florence, Mont. / R-FR)

Benjamin George, OL (Battle Mountain, Nev. / R-FR)

Bridger Polk, WR (Great Falls, Mont. / SR)

Canyon Sargent, LB (St. Ignatius, Mont. / R-SO)

Colter Ramos, WR (Missoula, Mont. / R-FR)

Connor Dunlea, DB (Malin, Ore. / R-FR)

Eli Nourse, WR (Dillon, Mont. / JR)

Hayden Hedges, RB (Cut Bank, Mont. / SR)

Jace Fitzgerald, LB (Dillon, Mont. / R-SR)

Jacob Westberry, LS (Hamilton, Mont. / R-SO)

Jonathan Kirkley, WR (Dillon, Mont. / SR)

Layne Cooney, OL (Missoula, Mont. / SR)

Matthew Heer, TE (Tekoa, Wash. / SR)

Michael Palandri, QB (Maple Valley, Wash. / R-SR)

Remington Scott, DB (Deer Park, Wash. / SR)

Taten Ells, LB (Tacoma, Wash. / SR)

Tyler Schoen, LB (Chinook, Wash. / R-SO)

2025-26 Daktronics NAIA Scholar Athletes – Cross Country

Brody Henry, (Havre, Mont. / JR)

Kylee Wyatt, (Omak, Wash. / SO)

Noah Rovente, (Lopez Island, Wash. / SO)

Olivia Heiner, (Ronan, Mont. / JR)

2025-26 Daktronics NAIA Scholar Athletes - Volleyball

Dani Brown, OH (Fair Oaks, Calif. / JR)

Jordan Olson, RS (Billings, Mont. / SR)

Madisyn Frazier, L/DS (Kalispell, Mont. / JR)

Savana Warburton, OH (Joliet, Mont. / SO)

Sophie Worden, S (Vancouver, Wash. / JR)

Taylor Ketchum, L/DS (Billings, Mont. / SO)