July 28, 2026
HELENA, Mont. – The Frontier Conference has announced its nominees for several 2026 NAIA National Awards, recognizing four outstanding student-athletes for their excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, character, and service.
The conference's nominees include Dickinson State's (N.D.) Chloe Gunderson and Carroll’s (Mont.) Henry Gross for the A.O. Duer Award, while Montana Tech's Connor Michaud and Avery Carlson have been selected as the Frontier Conference nominees for the Emil S. Liston Award.
The NAIA's national awards recognize student-athletes who embody the association's commitment to academic achievement, competitive excellence, leadership, and service to their campuses and communities.
A.O. Duer Award Nominees - named in honor of the NAIA's former executive secretary, the A.O. Duer Scholarship Award recognizes one male and one female junior student-athlete who has excelled in scholarship, character, and citizenship.
Chloe Gunderson – Dickinson State (Women's Track & Field)
Gunderson has established herself as one of the nation's premier field event athletes while excelling in the classroom and serving her community. A graduate student with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, she earned national recognition as the 2026 NAIA Women's Outdoor Field Event Athlete of the Year after becoming a national placer in both the discus and shot put.
Away from competition, Gunderson serves as an intern and event coordinator with the Dickinson State Heritage Foundation, where she has contributed to university advancement and community engagement initiatives.
Henry Gross – Carroll (Football)
Gross has combined academic excellence, athletic success, and extraordinary campus involvement throughout his Carroll career. A biology major, he earned Honorable Mention All-Frontier Conference and West All-Conference honors while receiving College Sports Communicators Academic All-District recognition twice, NAIA Daktronics Scholar-Athlete honors twice, and Frontier Conference Academic All-Conference accolades twice.
On the field, Gross compiled 98 career tackles, 9.0 sacks, and four forced fumbles during his collegiate career.
His leadership extends well beyond football as a Student-Athlete Advisory Council representative, president of the Carroll Pre-Dental Club, vice president of the Red Cross Club, treasurer of the Culture Club, and leader of the football program's Boys to Men initiative. Gross has also participated in a dental mission trip to the Nazareth Home for God's Children Orphanage in Sang, Ghana, while volunteering with Florence-Crittenton and numerous community service projects.
Emil S. Liston Award Nominees - named in honor of the NAIA's first executive secretary and the prime mover behind the men's basketball tournament, the Emil Liston Scholarship Award recognizes one junior men's and one junior women's basketball student-athlete who has shown high athletic and academic achievement.
Connor Michaud – Montana Tech (Men's Basketball)
Michaud played an important role off the bench for a Montana Tech men's basketball team that climbed as high as No. 6 in the NAIA national rankings, won a game at the NAIA National Tournament, and completed another outstanding season.
He appeared in all 33 games, making three starts while averaging 4.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per contest. Beyond basketball, Michaud serves as a Student-Athlete Advisory Council representative and has volunteered for numerous campus initiatives, including the SAAC semiannual blood drive, Techspy Athletic Awards, commencement setup, and Walk to School with a Digger Day.
Avery Carlson – Montana Tech (Women's Basketball)
Carlson helped lead Montana Tech to one of the most successful seasons in program history as the starting point guard for the Frontier Conference Tournament champions. The Orediggers finished 26-5 overall and became the first women's basketball team in school history to win an NAIA National Tournament game.
A biological sciences major with a perfect 4.0 GPA, Carlson averaged 5.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while starting all 31 games. She plans to attend medical school following graduation.
Carlson's academic accomplishments include conducting research on high-temperature carbon formation and removal on H-SOFC anode materials and presenting her findings at the 2025 Montana Tech SURF Symposium. She also worked as an assistant at Havre Chiropractic Clinic and has dedicated significant time to community service through Empty Bowls, local elementary schools, and girls' sports camps across Montana.
The Frontier Conference nominees now advance for consideration at the national level, where the NAIA will recognize student-athletes who exemplify the association's commitment to excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, character, and service.