Nick Hope of Wayne State College was announced today as one of 10 finalists for the 2009 Fred Mitchell Award, which is provided to the NCAA Division II or Division III place-kicker that excels on the football field and in the community.  The place kicker chosen for this award will be named by Monday, December 21.

            Hope, a 6-0, 225 pound senior from Avoca, Iowa, was named Northern Sun Conference First Team South Division place kicker for the second straight season this year after making 11 of 17 field goals and 43 of 46 PAT kicks.  He started his career as a walk on at WSC and finished as the all-time leading scorer with 245 career points while setting numerous kicking records.  Hope finished his WSC career making 71 percent (36 of 51) of his field goals and 94 percent (137 of 146) PAT kicks.  He made a school record 53 straight PAT kicks from October 11, 2008 to October 17, 2009 and was a Preseason All-American by 2009 Lindy's College Football Preview Magazine.  Off the field, Hope is very active in Wayne State's CHAMPS Life Skills Program and is a member of the SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) Club at Wayne State.

            Wayne State College finished the 2009 season with an 8-3 overall record, going 7-3 in the Northern Sun Conference to finish in a tie for third place overall.  Wayne State is an NCAA Division II school located in Wayne, Nebraska and competes in the 14-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.