UMAC Announces Finalists for 2014 Scholar-Athlete Leadership Awards
ST. PAUL -- The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) is proud to announce its list of finalists for the annual Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award, which includes five males and seven females. The award, which is given to one male and one female student-athlete from UMAC member institutions, recognizes graduating seniors who demonstrate a healthy balance by achieving excellence in academics, leadership, and service, while participating in intercollegiate athletics.
The finalists for the 2014 UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Awards are:
Deric Poldberg, Bethany Lutheran College
Nick Lambrecht, College of St. Scholastica
Micah Plocher, Martin Luther College
Peter Aerts, Northland College
Brendon Foss, University of Minnesota Morris
Gena Chester, Bethany Lutheran College
Breanna Adams, College of St. Scholastica
Bethany Schultz, Martin Luther College
Kayla Kipe, North Central University
Sarah Hudson, Northland College
Abby Fragodt, University of Minnesota Morris
Krista Stoltz, University of Northwestern
The NCAA Division III athlete is unique among intercollegiate athletes because, at Division III institutions, student-athletes receive no financial aid for athletic participation. Such institutions emphasize the overall quality of the educational experience and the successful completion of the student’s academic program; athletic participation is an important part of that educational experience. Division III provides opportunities for student-athletes to be a part of numerous campus activities in addition to athletics, and these finalists have maximized those opportunities.
The UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award is presented to students who embody what it means to be an NCAA Division III athlete. Through this award, the UMAC recognizes the role athletics plays in developing leaders by rewarding athletes' excellence in the classroom as well as service to the community. The league’s faculty athletic representatives nominate and vote on this honor.
The winners of the scholar-athlete leadership award will be announced during the third week of April. Award recipients are honored on their individual campuses and presented with a customized plaque.