The award which is presented annually by the NAIA and Daktronics recognizes a male and female junior basketball player for their excellence in playing ability, scholarship, and character. The award has been given since 1950 and honors the memory of the NAIA’s first executive director Emil S. Liston. Mr. Liston was the founder of the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) and played a principal role in the NAIA men’s basketball tournament.

Falkenberg, a 5-foot-11 guard from Wadsworth, Ohio, has already compiled amazing career numbers in just three seasons. After being the fastest player in school history to score 1,000 points in just 53 games, he stands just three points shy of becoming the fifth player in school history to score 2,000 points as he already ranks fifth in school history with 1,997 points. He also ranks third in career three-pointers made (354), has handed out 274 career assists, and has shot 89.2 percent from the free throw line for his career (331-for-371). MVNU has posted a 75-24 record during his three seasons with the Cougars and has advanced to the NAIA Division II national tournament each year.

After being selected as the American Mideast Conference South Division Player of the Year and an NAIA First Team All-American as a sophomore when he tossed in a school-record 743 points, Falkenberg put together another outstanding season as a junior as he averaged 21.5 points, ranked second in NAIA Division II in free throw percentage (91.7) and fourth in three-pointers made (4.1). He also handed out a career-high 111 assists with just 62 turnovers as he was once again chosen as an NAIA First Team All-American in becoming only the second player in any sport in school history to be named an NAIA First Team All-American twice. (Former MVNU catcher Justin Clarey earned the honors in baseball in 2002 and 2004.)

In the classroom, Falkenberg has compiled an impressive 3.84 grade point average as a Biology major. He has been named to the ESPN The Magazine® Academic All-District IV First Team twice and the ESPN The Magazine® Academic All-America Second Team twice. He was also selected to the NAIA and National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Scholar-Athlete Teams this year. Falkenberg has been on the MVNU Dean’s List five semesters with three semesters with a perfect 4.00 grade point average.

Off the court and outside the classroom, Falkenberg has also made an impact. He has taken missions trips to both Jamaica (summer of 2005) and the Dominican Republic (summer of 2006), and he has assisted with Vacation Bible School at his home church in Wadsworth. He has also worked various basketball camps and free clinics and has provided individual basketball instruction for players in the Wadsworth area during the summer.

Falkenberg and his teammates have also been recognized twice formally in the past three years for their character and sportsmanship. During his freshman season, the Cougars were selected as the NAIA Division II National Tournament Team Sportsmanship Award recipient. The following year, MVNU was honored once again by the NAIA with the Buffalo Funds Five Star Champions of Character Award.

MVNU sports information director Dave Parsons chronicled a glimpse into Falkenberg’s character. "One of my most vivid memories of Ben occurred during his sophomore year at the NAIA Division II National Tournament. Ben was in the midst of one of the greatest seasons in school history that saw him set numerous school records and end up as an NAIA First Team All-American. However, in the first game of the tournament, he fell and broke his shooting hand. Despite his immense disappointment, he showed great character by immediately becoming the team’s No. 1 cheerleader as they rallied to win that game and then took the eventual national champions to the limit in the following game. It showed me that Ben understand the value of being a good teammate over personal success and personal goals.”

"Ben will be one of the greatest student-athletes to graduate from Mount Vernon Nazarene University,” said head men’s basketball coach and athletic director Scott Flemming. "He has made a positive impact on and off the court. He is well on his way to being one of the most outstanding players in our program’s history.”

Lindsay Anderson, a standout guard at Doane (Neb.) College, was the female recipient of this year’s Emil S. Liston Award. Anderson, who has a double major in Accounting and Business Finance, averaged 18.2 points as a junior and was also the quickest player in program history to reach the 1,000-point mark as she currently ranks in the top 10 in career scoring. She is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and the Hansen Leadership Program.

"The NAIA is pleased to recognize Ben and Lindsay with the Emil S. Liston Award,” said Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO. "The NAIA exists to advance character-driven intercollegiate athletics and these are two great examples of how academic and athletic success can walk hand in hand. On behalf of the NAIA, I would like to congratulate Ben and Lindsay and wish them continued success.”

Falkenberg and Anderson were selected for the honor by the NAIA Council of Faculty Athletics Representatives from a field that included nominees from numerous NAIA member institutions. MVNU and Doane will each receive a $1,000 scholarship award from Daktronics in the name of the winner.

Falkenberg becomes the third MVNU player to receive the Emil S. Liston Award as he joins former Cougar standouts Alan Bock (2005) and Tom Clark (1986). It also marks the third time in four years that the male recipient has come from the American Mideast Conference as Cedarville University’s Ryan Short claimed the honor in 2007.