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IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa seniors Hannah Greenlee (rowing) and Nate Stanley (football) were named Iowa’s Big Ten Medal of Honor winners for 2019-20 as announced by the UI Department of Athletics.
The Big Ten Medal of Honor is the conference’s most exclusive award, and the first of its kind in intercollegiate athletics to recognize academic and athletic excellence. The Big Ten Medal of Honor was first awarded in 1915 to one male and one female student-athlete from the graduating class of each university who had “attained the greatest proficiency in athletics and scholastic work.”
Greenlee is a four-year member of the Iowa rowing team, helping elevate the program to new heights during her tenure. In Iowa’s most recent season, the 2018-19 season, Greenlee, an Ames, Iowa, native competed in all five spring competitions helping the I Varsity 8 to a second consecutive bronze medal at the Big Ten Championships. History was made at the 2019 NCAA Championships when Greenlee’s I Varsity 8 placed ninth overall for the best individual boat finish in program history. During Greenlee’s time, the Hawkeyes have been nationally ranked in 30 straight weeks, while she has twice garnered Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Stanley, who is a native of Menomonie, Wisconsin, was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the recently completed 2020 NFL Draft. He started all 13 games in 2019, passing for 2,951 yards and 16 touchdowns, and all 39 games the past three seasons. Iowa posted a 27-12 record in Stanley’s three seasons as starting quarterback. He ranks second in career passing touchdowns (68), career passing yards (8,302), career completions (673), and career pass attempts (1,155), and ranks third in career total offense (8,198). Stanley is one of five quarterbacks in program history to start three bowl games in their careers, and the second to win all three.
The Hawkeyes averaged 28.4 points per game in Stanley’s 39 career starts. His streak of 39 consecutive starts at quarterback ranks second in school history to Chuck Long (47). Stanley is one of three players in program history to throw for 8,000 or more career yards (8,302). Stanley was one of 10 finalists – and the only Big Ten quarterback on the list – for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, which is presented annually to the top senior or fourth-year quarterback in the nation. Stanley earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors in 2019. He earned Academic All-Big Ten honors three straight years and earned the Big Ten Conference Sportsmanship Award for football as a senior. He was named a team Most Valuable Player in 2019 and a team captain. He is just the second player at Iowa to be named a permanent team captain three years (LB Josey Jewell).
