UMAC announces 2022 UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award finalists
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 Thursday.
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 13. The two award winners will be honored by their respective institutions and presented with a personalized plaque.
2022 UMAC Female Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award Finalists
| Jase Anderson |
North Central University |
Farmington, Minn./Christian Life Academy |
Volleyball |
| Coriander Dehlin |
Northland College |
Viroqua, Wis. |
Soccer, Hockey |
| Kaelyn Holdcroft |
Martin Luther College |
Greenville, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran |
Soccer |
| Jenna Howden |
University of Minnesota Morris |
Morris, Minn./Morris Area |
Volleyball |
| Zoe Kinakin |
Bethany Lutheran College |
Victoria, British Columbia/Lambrick Park Secondary |
Soccer, Softball |
| Jordyn O'Brien |
University of Wisconsin-Superior |
Superior, Wis./Superior |
Volleyball |
| Sydney Schwitters |
University of Northwestern |
Clara City, Minn./MACCRAY |
Volleyball |
| Gracie Zieroth |
Crown College |
Anoka, Minn./Legacy Christian Academy |
Volleyball |
2022 UMAC Male Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award Finalists
| Dante Bender |
University of Wisconsin-Superior |
Gurney, Wis./Hurley |
Baseball |
| Max Busch |
Bethany Lutheran College |
Odenthal, Germany/Gymnasium Odenthal |
Soccer |
| Rodrigo DeMendoza |
North Central University |
Panama City, Panama/Crossroads Christian Academy |
Soccer |
| Jacob Emley |
University of Northwestern |
St. Peter, Minn./St. Peter |
Football |
| Ainsworth Grant |
Northland College |
Morvant, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago |
Soccer |
| Aiden Holien |
Martin Luther College |
Watertown, S.D./Great Plains Lutheran |
Football, Track and Field |
| Kenneth Riley, Jr. |
University of Minnesota Morris |
Spring Valley, Minn./Stewartville |
Basketball |
| Seth Royston |
Crown College |
Leroy, Minn. |
Basketball |