KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Avery Oetting has been named the Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) Emil S. Liston award winner.

The Emil S. Liston Scholarship award recognizes academic and athletic excellence by junior student-athletes in men's and women's basketball. The award is 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 has been presented annually since 1950 to one junior men's and one junior women's basketball student-athlete who has shown high athletic and scholastic achievement.

Criteria:

• Must be certified by the registrar as having an overall GPA of at least 3.50 (on a 4.00 scale) and have attained junior standing academically.
• Selection shall be based on athletic and academic achievement.

Avery Oetting, Culver-Stockton College:
Oetting, a native of Hallsville, Mo., excelled in the classroom and on the court during her first three years with the women's basketball program.

Academically, she maintained an impressive 3.96 GPA while majoring in accounting and minoring in sport management. Her hard work in the classroom earned her recognition as a Heart Scholar-Athlete and as an NAIA Daktronics Scholar Athlete. Oetting was awarded the Gray Hunter Stenn LLP Outstanding Accounting Gradate Award for her accomplishments in the classroom.

On the court, Oetting is a three-time all-conference selection, including a second team pick n 2024-25. In 2022-23 she was named the Heart's Freshman of the Year after averaging 9.5 points. 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. During her rookie season, Oetting shot 44 percent from the field, including 41 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. In her career, Oetting is averaging 11.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game. She has made 151 career 3-pointers, which is second on the school's all-time list.

Beyond her athletic and academic achievements, Oetting is an active member of the campus community. She works at youth basketball camps both at Culver-Stockton and in her hometown in Hallsville. In addition, she regularly volunteers at a local food pantry and will serve as a Resident Director in the residence halls during the 2025-26 school year.

What They're Saying:
"Avery leads by example, on the basketball court, in the classroom, and in our office. She sets a high standard for peers and has earned our full confidence as a role model and leader." – Tonya Schleeter, Boone Central Title Company.

"Avery is the type of student professors enjoy having in class.  She was always on time, always well prepared for class, and always completed her assignments with attention to detail and quality.  Just as Avery excels court, Avery also excels in the classroom. Her analytical skills, critical thinking skills, and communication skills are well above her peers. Avery is also very respectful and always engaged. She has maturity and poise and already has a well-developed emotional intelligence skillset and sense of professionalism." – Julie Straus, CPA, Vice President for Finance / Chief Financial Officer at Culver-Stockton College.

"Avery brings a positive, mature, and thoughtful presence to everything she does. Beyond her athletic achievements, Avery stands out for her passion, resilience, and mental toughness. She leads by example and has become an extension of our coaching staff through leadership, communication, and team-first mindset" – Janette Burgin, Head Women's Basketball Coach at Culver-Stockton College

"We are extremely excited that Avery has been earned the Emil S. Liston Award for the Heart of America which signifies her high athletic and academic achievement. Avery has been a prominent member of our Women's Basketball program since she arrived on campus and takes great pride in her academic achievement as well. She represents Culver-Stockton College in a first-class manner, and we wish her the best as she moves forward as the Heart nominee for the National Liston award." – Pat Atwell, Director of Athletics at Culver-Stockton College.

"Avery is a very bright student who has a high degree of potential. She has confidence and is a leader among her peers, though she also works well when she is not in charge. Avery is well-respected among other students and highly thought of among faculty from all disciplines" – Dr. Lauren Schellenberger," Ph.D. President at Culver-Stockton College.

"Avery is an accomplished young woman whose integrity and determination define her. She consistently upholds the highest standards of personal conduct and academic excellence, demonstrating maturity and poise well beyond her years. Avery's sense of citizenship is deeply ingrained in her actions. She actively participates in community outreach efforts, volunteering her time to help her former coach organize the local youth basketball league at her high school. She views her role as a student athlete as an opportunity to make an impact and approaches it with a deep sense of responsibility and gratitude." - Dr. Dell Ann Janney, Ph.D., Professor of Accounting, Business Co-Chair at Culver-Stockton College.

Up Next:
Oetting is now eligible for the NAIA Emil S. Liston award, which will be announced during the NAIA National Awards Day on September 15.