Stanford's David Jessen and Bailey Perez have been named finalists for the 2020 Nissen-Emery Award.
The duo joins Jake Bonnay (Nebraska), Stephen Nedoroscik (Penn State), Michael Paradise (Illinois) and Sam Zakutney (Penn State) as finalists for the prestigious award.
The Nissen-Emery award is given annually to the top senior gymnast in the nation. Recognized as the highest honor in the sport, it will be presented next month at the NCAA Championship Banquet in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Stanford boasts five previous Nissen-Emery Award recipients, including Akash Modi (2017), Eddie Penev (2013), Dan Gill (2004), Josh Stein (1995) and Steve Hug (1974). Jessen and Perez are looking to become the fourth honoree mentored by head coach Thom Glielmi joining Modi, Penev and Gill.
The Cardinal has claimed 23 finalists for the award since its inception in 1966.
The original Nissen Award was named in honor of George Nissen, a former NCAA champion, for his contributions to men's gymnastics. The award was re-named the Nissen-Emery Award in 1998 to honor Dr. Robert Emery, a Penn State graduate, who won the Nissen Award in 1969.
The Nissen-Emery Award is inscribed with the following motto: "The true champion seeks excellence physically, mentally, socially, and morally".