Loukinen, Poskie, Sherry selected 2020 UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award winners
ST. PAUL, Minn.---Among a field of 18 talented and dedicated Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) senior student-athletes recognized as finalists for the 2020 Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award, three individuals have set themselves apart from the rest through consistent success on and off the field of competition.
Elizabeth Poskie of the College of St. Scholastica and Talia Sherry of the University of Northwestern have been named the 2020 UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award winners for the women, while Riley Loukinen of North Central University has been tabbed as the male winner, the conference office announced Wednesday.
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Finalists Release |
Past Winners |
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 honor is awarded annually to one male and one female graduating senior from UMAC full member-institutions.
Loukinen, Poskie and Sherry emerged from a group of finalists that demonstrates a healthy balance by achieving excellence in academics, leadership, and service while participating in intercollegiate athletics. Finalists for each institution were nominated by the UMAC Faculty Athletics Representatives (FAR) and the winners were also selected by the FAR Council.
"The UMAC is honored to recognize Riley, Liz and Talia as our 2020 UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award recipients," said UMAC Commissioner Corey Borchardt. "These three outstanding student-athletes have remarkable accomplishments in athletics, academics, and campus and community pursuits. Riley, Liz and Talia all excel as multi-sport athletes and have demonstrated unparalleled leadership capability and dedication to serving others. These leaders exemplify the NCAA Division III philosophy and UMAC core values and serve as great representatives of the type of student-athletes that the UMAC is happy to have competing."
Riley Loukinen, North Central University
Hometown: Little Falls, Minn.
Major(s): Mathematics, Business Administration
Sport(s): Basketball, Soccer
Academic Honors and Achievement
- Dean's List (every semester)
- Academic All-UMAC (every year, basketball and soccer)
- North Central scholarship for mathematics and Scholars' scholarship
- NCCAA regional and national scholar athlete
- Presented business marketing plan to General Mills for "Food Should Taste Good" campaign
- Career plan to work in youth ministry
Athletics Achievement and Involvement
- Three-year captain (basketball and soccer)
- All-UMAC Honorable Mention, men's soccer (2018, 2019)
- UMAC All-Sportsmanship Team, men's basketball (2019-20)
- Attended 2018 UMAC Student-Athlete Leadership Conference
- North Central Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) member
- Led team Bible study and devotions
Campus and Community Leadership and Service
- Member of seven mission trip groups with focus on youth and sports; served on leadership team for Guatemala trip in 2019
- Youth group leader for middle and high school students at Oak Hills and Watermark Churches
- Special Olympics volunteer
- Four-year volunteer at Lake Geneva bible camp
- Volunteer coach with Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx Academy
- North Central fitness center staff member
Video Interview with Riley Loukinen
Elizabeth Poskie, College of St. Scholastica
Hometown: Cotton, Minn.
Major(s): Biology (pre-medicine), Psychology
Sport(s): Cross Country, Track and Field
Academic Honors and Achievement
- Dean's List (every semester)
- Academic All-UMAC (every year, cross country and track and field)
- Noyce internship
- Supplemental Instruction leader for anatomy and physiology course, teaching assistant for chemistry department
- Biology research projects on enzymes and cell structure and growth
- Accepted to University of Minnesota-Duluth medical school
Athletics Achievement and Involvement
- Two-year captain (cross country and track and field)
- All-UMAC First Team, cross country (2017, 2018)
- UMAC Indoor 5,000-meter run champion (2019)
- UMAC All-Sportsmanship Team, women's indoor track and field (2019, 2020)
- St. Scholastica Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) member
Campus and Community Leadership and Service
- Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Benedictine Medical Center
- Personal care assistant, volunteer at hospital in palliative care and oncology
- Special Olympics volunteer
- St. Scholastica and Chester Bowl Ski Hill trail grooming and maintenance volunteering
- Volunteer for Boys & Girls Club and Summit Preschool
- Grandma's Marathon volunteer
- Designed and implemented "Looney Physiology" for Lake Superior Youth Symposium
Video Interview with Liz Poskie
Talia Sherry, University of Northwestern
Hometown: Apple Valley, Minn.
Major(s): Biology (pre-veterinary), Organizational Leadership (master's)
Sport(s): Basketball, Lacrosse
Academic Honors and Achievement
- Three-year graduate, master's student
- Dean's List (every semester)
- Academic All-UMAC (every year, basketball)
- NCCAA regional and national scholar athlete
- Biology research on invasive species and antibiotics
- Tri-beta officer in biology department
- Career plan to work as collegiate lacrosse coach
Athletics Achievement and Involvement
- Two-year captain (lacrosse)
- All-MWLC Honorable Mention (2019)
- Northwestern lacrosse career leader in goals, points and assists
- Northwestern Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) member, secretary (2018-19)
Campus and Community Leadership and Service
- Volunteer with Minnesota Zoo and Wildlife Rehab Center
- Veterinary technician with Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital
- Participated in missions trips to Haiti and Dominican Republic
- Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and Feed My Starving Children
- Attended and volunteered at Summit Leadership Conference
- Coaches Eastview High School girls lacrosse team, Minnesota Loons lacrosse
- Completed 11 marathons with funds raised to support clean water initiatives
- Owns own business (started at age 13) selling potted plants to earn money to support missions trips
Video Interview with Talia Sherry
Loukinen, Poskie and Sherry will receive a commemorative plaque with their name engraved on it. Together, they become the 13th group to win the UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award since its inception in 2008.
Past UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award winners:
2019 – Josh Koelpin (Martin Luther College), MacKenna Hinz (Bethany Lutheran College)
2018 – Nick McCormick (Crown College), Kira Grev (Martin Luther College)
2017 – John Haseman (University of Minnesota Morris), Elissa Pheneger (North Central University)
2016 – Louis Corcoran (Northland College), Annaliese Schroeder (North Central University)
2015 – Sutton Rehwalt (North Central University), Olivia Krejcarek (College of St. Scholastica)
2014 – Brendan Foss (University of Minnesota Morris), Krista Stoltz (University of Northwestern), Abby Fragodt (University of Minnesota Morris)
2013 – Brett Tester (College of St. Scholastica), Kali Cordes (University of Minnesota Morris)
2012 – Brady Giffith (Crown College), Joelle Pipal (Bethany Lutheran College)
2011 – Toby Peter (College of St. Scholastica), April Cook (Martin Luther College)
2010 – Nick Olson (Northwestern College), Maddy Gerber (University of Minnesota Morris)
2009 – Zach Marshall (Northwestern College), Eva Voss (Bethany Lutheran College)
2008 – Nathan Nass (Martin Luther College), Christopher Rubesch (College of St. Scholastica), Kristin Scislow (Bethany Lutheran College)