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	<title>award &#8211; The Hilltop Monitor</title>
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	<title>award &#8211; The Hilltop Monitor</title>
	<link>https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu</link>
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	<item>
		<title>Ballon d’Or 2025: why Ousmane Dembélé was hands down the best player of 2024–25</title>
		<link>https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/ballon-dor-2025-why-ousmane-dembele-was-hands-down-the-best-player-of-2024-25/</link>
					<comments>https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/ballon-dor-2025-why-ousmane-dembele-was-hands-down-the-best-player-of-2024-25/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliott Labeth]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Oct 2025 17:30:02 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Issue 3]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sports Opinions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volume 40]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[award]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dembele]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eliott labeth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Football]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[psg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[soccer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sports opinion]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/?p=20515</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[This article initially appeared in a print edition of the Hilltop Monitor published on Oct. 6, 2025. On Monday, Sept. 22, the Ballon d&#8217;Or award&#8230; ]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><em>This article initially appeared in a print edition of the </em>Hilltop Monitor<em> published on Oct. 6, 2025.</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/peter-glaser-qWs_Wa1JrKM-unsplash1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-20516" srcset="https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/peter-glaser-qWs_Wa1JrKM-unsplash1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/peter-glaser-qWs_Wa1JrKM-unsplash1-750x500.jpg 750w, https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/peter-glaser-qWs_Wa1JrKM-unsplash1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/peter-glaser-qWs_Wa1JrKM-unsplash1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/peter-glaser-qWs_Wa1JrKM-unsplash1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@baraida?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Peter Glaser</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/white-and-gray-adidas-soccerball-on-lawn-grass-qWs_Wa1JrKM?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>.</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>On Monday, Sept. 22, the Ballon d&#8217;Or award ceremony, which awards this year’s most accomplished soccer player (men and women being judged separately), took place in Paris. This year’s men’s award went to Ousmane Dembélé, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)’s most accomplished forward.</p>



<p>The 28-year-old Frenchman produced a season that was as decisive as it was spectacular. In 2024–25, Dembélé powered PSG to a historic campaign, winning nearly everything, including the club’s first-ever UEFA Champions League title, the most significant club trophy in world football. Individually, he posted a remarkable 35 goals and 16 assists in 53 games, making him one of Europe’s most productive players. In comparison, in 2022 Messi was awarded the Ballon d’Or despite scoring only 21 goals and delivering 16 assists. On paper, his Ballon d’Or seems beyond dispute. Yet, as always, the award ignited debate in the football community. Was Dembélé’s season truly the best? Did someone else deserve it more? These are familiar questions, as the Ballon d’Or has always been both a barometer of excellence and a lightning rod for controversy.</p>



<p><strong>A Legendary Award with Subjective Edges</strong></p>



<p>Part of the Ballon d’Or’s mystique lies in its subjectivity. Like the Oscars for cinema, the award claims to recognize the “best,” but who and what defines “the best” is constantly contested. France Football, the magazine that created and still administers the Ballon d’Or, tries to guide voters with three clear criteria:</p>



<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>Individual performances: decisiveness and overall impact</li>



<li>Team performances and achievements: collective success matters</li>



<li>Class and fair play: professionalism, attitude, and sportsmanship</li>
</ol>



<p>These criteria deliberately blend quantitative and qualitative factors. Goals and assists matter, but so do intangible traits — leadership, consistency and composure under pressure. This mix is precisely why the Ballon d’Or retains its intrigue. A player can excel statistically yet still be edged out by someone whose trophies carry more weight.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Do Individual or Collective Stats Win a Ballon d’Or?</strong></h3>



<p>The assumption that “most goals + most trophies = Ballon d’Or” oversimplifies the picture. Certainly, scoring records and silverware have historically boosted a candidate’s odds. But the award often prioritizes the type of trophy over sheer quantity. Since 2005, 15 of the 20 Ballon d’Or winners have captured a major title (Champions League, European Championship, or World Cup) in the same year they lifted the award. In other words, winning the biggest competitions at the highest level often tips the scales.</p>



<p>Dembélé checks both boxes. Not only did he lead his team in decisive personal contributions (goals and assists) he also helped PSG to the sport’s ultimate club prize: the UEFA Champions League. It is this blend of individual decisiveness and historic collective success that made his 2024–25 campaign irresistible to voters.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Is the Award Reserved for Forwards?</strong></h3>



<p>A frequent criticism of the Ballon d’Or is that it overwhelmingly favors attacking positions. Over the past two decades, forwards and attacking midfielders have dominated the award, winning 15 out of the last 20 years. Yet this hasn’t always been the case. Prior to 2000, defenders like Franz Beckenbauer and Fabio Cannavaro won the trophy, proving that elite defending can be as decisive as goalscoring in the eyes of voters.</p>



<p>Nevertheless, the shift reflects football’s evolution. Modern voters favor players who produce direct goal contributions because these are easy to quantify. Players like Achraf Hakimi — who excel as fullbacks but also deliver phenomenal offensive stats — embody a hybrid player that could eventually break the forward monopoly again. But for now, the award’s bias toward attackers remains pronounced.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Best Player vs. Best Season</strong></h3>



<p>One final major tension surrounds the Ballon d’Or: should it reward the “best player” overall or the “best season”? Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo won the Ballon d’Or even in years when another player arguably had a stronger single campaign, simply because their sustained brilliance redefined the sport.</p>



<p>Dembélé’s 2025 victory aligns both sides of that debate. He wasn’t merely a good player having a great year or an all-time great winning on sheer reputation; he was a world-class talent whose season reached a historic peak. His contributions weren’t empty numbers but decisive interventions in the most important games. In that sense, he represents the rare case where the award honors both an elite player <em>and</em> a truly unmatched season.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Why Dembélé’s 2025 Ballon d’Or Was Undeniable</strong></h3>



<p>In combining elite statistics, the sport’s biggest club trophy, and match-winning moments, Ousmane Dembélé embodied the very criteria France Football laid out decades ago. His campaign stood at the intersection of individual mastery and collective achievement, the precise sweet spot Ballon d’Or voters are supposed to reward.</p>



<p>For once, the conversation about who “deserved” the Ballon d’Or may be shorter than usual. Dembélé’s 2024–25 season wasn’t just a personal triumph; it was the fulfillment of his immense promise and a historic milestone for PSG.</p>
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		<title>Brews served at Jewell now award-winning</title>
		<link>https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/brews-served-at-jewell-now-award-winning/</link>
					<comments>https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/brews-served-at-jewell-now-award-winning/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 May 2019 13:00:40 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Campus News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[@the beak]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[award]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[coffee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sofia arthurs-schoppe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[the perch]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/?p=10473</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[In lieu of an on-campus bar, where do William Jewell College students go to grab a cold brew and vent their frustrations? Easy, the campus&#8230; ]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Edited-3-1-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10530" srcset="https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Edited-3-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Edited-3-1-750x500.jpg 750w, https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Edited-3-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Fresh Idea&#8217;s certificate for food safety excellence in front of the shop&#8217;s classic brews. <em>Photo by  Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>In lieu of an on-campus bar, where do William Jewell College students go to grab a cold brew and vent their frustrations? Easy, the campus coffee shops. There any student can pull up a stool and talk about any topic to the willingly – and contractually obliged to be – listening baristas. <br></p>



<p>As well as being beloved by the Jewell community, the Fresh Ideas contracted coffee shops were recently recognized by the Clay County Public Health Center with a Food Safety Excellence Award.<br></p>



<p>For the year of 2018, these awards were given to the top 8 percent of establishments overseen by the Clay County Public Health Center and reward a commitment to the Clay County Food Code, outstanding food safety and sanitation practices, and the achievement of exceptional inspection results during the calendar year. <br></p>



<p>“I’m so proud of this team of baristas for diligently serving the Jewell community,” said Kristina Clevenger (‘18) supervisor of the Jewell coffee shops. &nbsp;<br></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Edited-2-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10529" srcset="https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Edited-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Edited-2-750x500.jpg 750w, https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Edited-2-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Jewell coffee shop supervisor smiles at a patron from behind The Perch counter. <em>Photo by Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe</em></figcaption></figure>



<p>For @TheBeak and The Perch, receiving this award means placing in the 92 percentile – or better than the other 92 percent – of establishments inspected by the Environmental Health Protection Section of Clay County Public Health Center during the 2018 calendar year.<br></p>



<p>“I love working the bar at The Beak,” said barista Cindy Eggleston (‘91), shocked that the Jewell coffee shops received the award.<br></p>



<p>The Clay County Public Health Center’s Environmental Health Protection Section is responsible for permitting and inspecting all food establishments within its jurisdiction, <a href="https://www.clayhealth.com/152/Food">including</a>: restaurants, taverns, grocery stores, convenience stores, schools, hospitals, bakeries, childcare centers, mobile units, push carts, vending machines and temporary event concessions. <br></p>



<p><a href="https://www.clayhealth.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/237">During 2018</a>, 1,486 routine food establishment inspections and 231 temporary food event inspections were conducted by the Environmental Health Protection Section of the Clay County Public Health Center. Additionally, 130 food-related complaints were investigated. <br></p>



<p>Of those evaluations, “FRESH IDEAS COFFEESHOP @ WJC” ranked among the highest in quality of food safety and adherence to The Clay County Food Code. The establishments were required to make only minor adjustments following <a href="http://www.inspectionsonline.us/MO/ClayLiberty/Inspect.nsf/(ag_dspPubDetail)?OpenAgent&amp;pUNID=422F6C66DE0B1BBD8625835C006481E3">the Dec. 7, 2018 evaluation</a>. <br></p>



<p>In <a href="https://www.clayhealth.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/237">the press release for the awards</a>, section chief of environmental health protection at the Clay County Public Health Center, Becky Steiner commented that most food establishments in Clay County meet the required food safety standards but that those receiving a Food Safety Excellence Award are exceptional. <br></p>



<p>“While most Clay County food establishments regularly meet high food safety standards, we like to recognize the ones that consistently prove they value clean and healthy food service,” said Steiner. “Through the efforts of these trained food employees and managers, we can ensure safe and enjoyable dining experiences for Clay County residents and visitors.”<br></p>



<p>Other Liberty businesses recognized with an award include Alexander Doniphan Elementary School, Eileen&#8217;s Colossal Cookies, Hy-Vee (Salad Bar, Produce, Test Kit) and Liberty North Senior High. A full list of the award recipients can be viewed <a href="https://www.clayhealth.com/DocumentCenter/View/775/Food-Safety-Excellence-Award-Winners-2018">here</a>. <br></p>
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		<title>Community members honored and new academic year ushered in at Opening Convocation</title>
		<link>https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/community-members-honored-and-new-academic-year-ushered-in-at-opening-convocation/</link>
					<comments>https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/community-members-honored-and-new-academic-year-ushered-in-at-opening-convocation/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Isabel Scamurra]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 10 Sep 2018 17:19:21 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[award]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[choir]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[event]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Isabel scamurra]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[opening convocation]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/?p=6389</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[On Sept. 7, the William Jewell College community gathered in Gano Chapel for Opening Convocation. The annual ceremony honors the 2018 William F. Yates Medalists&#8230; ]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On Sept. 7, the William Jewell College community gathered in Gano Chapel for Opening Convocation. The annual ceremony honors the 2018 William F. Yates Medalists as well as welcomes students, faculty and trustees back to the Hill. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The ceremony began with the procession of faculty members in full academic robes and the singing of the National Anthem. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls, president of the College, delivered a welcome message to the community. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Concert Choir performed the musical anthem under the direction of Dr. Anthony Maglione, associate professor of music. The piece, entitled “The Same Stream,” established an accepting, forward-looking tone through the lyrics:</span></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day</span></i></p>
<p><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.</span></i></p>
<p><div id="attachment_6391" style="width: 760px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-6391" class="wp-image-6391 size-medium" src="https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/111-750x500.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="500" srcset="https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/111-750x500.jpg 750w, https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/111-768x512.jpg 768w, https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/111-1024x683.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><p id="caption-attachment-6391" class="wp-caption-text">Susan Chambers, chair of the Board of Trustees, congratulates award winner Karen L. Daniel.</p></div></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Karen L. Daniel and Jewel D. Scott, received the 2018 William F. Yates Medallion, the highest non-degree award bestowed by Jewell.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Karen L. Daniel was the chief financial officer of Black and Veatch, as well as president of the company’s Global Finance and Technology Solutions Division, until her recent retirement. Daniel was introduced by Joe Reardon, the President/CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, who praised her financial accounting skills and wonderful sense of humor. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jewel D. Scott, also recently retired, served The Civic Council of Greater Kansas City for 29 years as director of research and lateras the executive director. Sandra J. Price, former Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Sprint Corporation introduced Scott. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The address was delivered by David Warm, Executive Director of Mid-America Regional Council. Warm drew on his experience as a father and a community leader in Liberty to present an encouraging message.  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“[As critical thinkers at William Jewell, you have claimed] the skills, the confidence, the commitment to let go and move forward, to navigate the uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity,” said Warm. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the end of the ceremony, attendees of the 2018 Opening Convocation stood to sing Jewell’s Alma Mater, ushering in a new academic year on the Hill.</span></p>
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		<title>AFE: The Hilltop Monitor loses liberal propaganda award to every other accredited publication</title>
		<link>https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/the-hilltop-monitor-loses-liberal-propaganda-award-to-every-other-accredited-publication/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Brett Stone]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 01 Apr 2017 15:00:13 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[April Fools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[april fools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[award]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[communism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[competition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[liberal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[propaganda]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://hilltopmonitor.jewell.edu/?p=1504</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[ This year “The Hilltop Monitor” regrettably did not receive the Karl Marx Award for Excellence in Liberal Propaganda. The competition, literally every accredited publication in&#8230; ]]></description>
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<div class="meta-info"><time class="entry-date updated" datetime="2017-04-01T08:00:18+00:00"></time></p>
<div class="entry-comments-views"> This year “The Hilltop Monitor” regrettably did not receive the Karl Marx Award for Excellence in Liberal Propaganda. The competition, literally every accredited publication in the country, was just too stiff.</div>
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<p>The failing “New York Times,” by holding the Trump administration accountable, placed first. It’s leftist agenda made itself particularly known when it released an article last month linking Trump campaign officials to Russian intelligence officers. The Monitor simply can’t compete with that degree of blatant disregard for patriotism.</p>
<p>“This was certainly a disappointing year. Throughout the semester I have tried my hardest to encourage staff writers to be critical of the White House, but to no avail,” Drew Novak, Perspectives editor for the Monitor, said.</p>
<p>Kristen Agar, managing editor for the Monitor, had a similar comment.</p>
<p>“How are we expected to be recognized for our liberal propaganda when every respected news source in the country is <i>also </i>pumping out fake news on a daily basis?” Agar said.</p>
<p>What doesn’t help is a dramatic decrease in funding for the Monitor’s operation. After Hillary Clinton lost the election in November, she stopped sliding $100 bills under the table so that we could be able to smear the Trump campaign.</p>
<p>The staff has hope for next year, however.</p>
<p>“We are working on some exciting projects for next year,” Agar said. “For instance, the Monitor is sponsoring a photo feature of artists carving hammers and sickles into desks around campus. Our hope is to inspire the student body to fully accept communism. We’re optimistic.”</p>
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