2018-19 UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award finalists announced
ST. PAUL, Minn.--- Each spring, the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) recognizes outstanding senior student-athletes who demonstrate a healthy balance by achieving excellence in academics, leadership, and service while participating in intercollegiate athletics, through the UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award.
This year, the UMAC has named nine female and nine male finalists who will be eligible to receive the UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award, the conference office announced Wednesday.
The UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award is presented to student-athletes who embody what it means to be an NCAA Division III student-athlete. Through this award, the UMAC recognizes the role athletics plays in developing leaders by rewarding athletes' excellence in the classroom as well as their service to the community.
The NCAA Division III student-athlete is unique among intercollegiate athletes because, at Division III institutions, student-athletes receive no financial aid for athletics 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.
Finalists are nominated by each institution and the winners are selected by the UMAC Council of Faculty Athletics Representatives. Winners of the Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award – which will be given to one male and one female – will be announced Wednesday, April 10. The two award winners will be honored on their individual campuses and presented with a personalized plaque.
2019 UMAC Female Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award Finalists
| Emily Bounds |
College of St. Scholastica |
Hill City, Minn./Hill City |
Volleyball |
| Freya Hanson |
University of Northwestern |
Otsego, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville |
Volleyball |
| MacKenna Hinz |
Bethany Lutheran College |
Burnsville, Minn./Rosemount |
Volleyball |
| Emma Middendorf |
North Central University |
Glenwood, Minn./Minnewaska Area |
Volleyball |
| Katherine Novak |
University of Minnesota Morris |
Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park |
Cross Country, Track and Field |
| Alina Rolfe |
Crown College |
Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein |
Volleyball |
| Grace Schultz |
Martin Luther College |
Elkhorn, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran |
Basketball, Volleyball |
| Katherine Taylor |
Northland College |
Vero Beach, Fla./Sebastian River |
Basketball |
| Emily VerWay |
University of Wisconsin-Superior |
Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Simley |
Volleyball |
2019 UMAC Male Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award Finalists
| Donovan Blatz |
College of St. Scholastica |
Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View |
Football, Track and Field |
| Brandon Galland |
Northland College |
Bellevue, Wash./Interlake |
Basketball |
| Caleb Hageman |
University of Northwestern |
Charles City, Iowa/Charles City |
Basketball |
| Gabe Hartwig |
North Central University |
Eagle River, Wis./Northland Pines |
Soccer |
| Josh Koelpin |
Martin Luther College |
New Ulm, Minn./Minnesota Valley Lutheran |
Soccer, Tennis |
| Jason Kragt |
Crown College |
Kandern, Germany/Black Forest Academy |
Soccer |
| Zachary Mazurek |
University of Wisconsin-Superior |
Bessemer, Mich./Bessemer |
Cross Country, Track and Field |
| Jarred Merchant |
Bethany Lutheran College |
Kimball, Minn./Kimball Area |
Basketball |
| Gannon Youakim |
University of Minnesota Morris |
Hopkins, Minn./Hopkins |
Soccer, Tennis |