Arthur L. Trester Award for Mental Attitude

At the state finals, members of the IHSAA Executive Committee present the Trester Award to the outstanding senior participant in each classification of the boys’ basketball state finals. The recipients of this award, who were nominated by their principals and coaches, must excel in mental attitude, scholarship, leadership and athletic ability in basketball. Farm Bureau Insurance, IHSAA corporate partner, presents a $1,000 scholarship to each school in the name of the recipient.

From 1917 to 1943 the award was known as “The Gimbel Medal for Mental Attitude” in honor of Mr. Jake Gimbel of Vincennes, who awarded the medal each of those years until his passing prior to the 1943 tournament. In 1944, the award became known as the “IHSAA Medal for Mental Attitude”.  In 1945, the IHSAA board officially named the award “The Arthur L. Trester Medal for Mental Attitude” in honor of the man who served as first commissioner of the Association from 1929 to 1944.

Recipients were given a medal each year from 1945 through 1964, hence “The Arthur L. Trester Medal for Mental Attitude.” Since 1965, the award has been made in the form of a plaque with a copy of the original medal incorporated on the face of the plaque, hence “The Arthur L. Trester Award for Mental Attitude.”