Eagles' Schwitters, Yellowjackets' Bender named 2022 UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award Recipients
ST. PAUL, Minn.---Among a field of 16 talented and dedicated Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) senior student-athletes recognized as finalists for the 2022 Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award, two individuals have set themselves apart from the rest through consistent success on and off the field of competition.
Sydney Schwitters of the University of Northwestern has been named the 2022 UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award winner for the women, while Dante Bender of the University of Wisconsin-Superior 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.
Bender and Schwitters 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 thrilled to honor Dante and Sydney with the 2022 UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Awards," said UMAC Commissioner Corey Borchardt. "These two outstanding student-athletes have remarkable achievements in athletics, academics, and campus and community involvement. Dante and Sydney have succeeded in their sports and have demonstrated unparalleled leadership abilities and dedication to serving others. These leaders exemplify the NCAA Division III philosophy and UMAC core values and serve as excellent representatives of the type of student-athletes that the UMAC is proud to have competing."
Sydney Schwitters, University of Northwestern
Hometown: Clara City, Minn.
Major(s): Health Sciences, Bible
Sport: Volleyball
Academic Honors and Achievement
- Dean's List (every semester)
- Academic All-UMAC (every semester)
- Graduated in December 2021
- Chapter leader of Tri-Beta Honors Biological Society
- Research leader with Mayo Clinic IMPACT poster presentation
- Accepted to physician's assistant program at Northwestern College (Iowa)
Athletics Achievement and Involvement
- Volleyball team captain
- UMAC Volleyball Player of the Year (2019, 2021)
- AVCA All-America Second Team (2021), AVCA All-America Honorable Mention (2018, 2019)
- UMAC Volleyball Regular Season Champion (2018, 2019, 2020-21, 2021)
- UMAC Tournament Champion (2019, 2020-21, 2021)
- NCAA Tournament appearances (2019, 2021)
- Participated in team missions trip to Spain (August, 2019)
Campus and Community Leadership and Service
- Served as teaching assistant and tutor at Northwestern
- Volunteered with Feed My Starving Children
- Coordinated meetings as Health Care Professions of Tomorrow club leader
- Visited nursing home residents during semester breaks
- Sang with church worship team
- Coached volleyball during summer breaks
Video Interview with Sydney Schwitters
Dante Bender, University of Wisconsin-Superior
Hometown: Gurney, Wis.
Major(s): Psychology, Exercise Science
Sport: Baseball
Academic Honors and Achievement
- Dean's List (every semester)
- Academic All-UMAC (every year, cross country and track and field)
- Multiple Wisconsin-Superior scholarship awards
- Will graduate with Summa Cum Laude honors
- Presented psychology research study - "Procrastination and Stress in College Students"
- Plans to pursue a graduate degree for clinical mental health counseling
Athletics Achievement and Involvement
- Wisconsin-Superior Baseball 2019 Teammate of the Year
- Member of athletics Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
- Building manager in the Marcovich Wellness Center and lifeguard
- Actively involved with Wisconsin-Superior athletics "Week of Giving" initiatives
- Baseball camp volunteer
Campus and Community Leadership and Service
- Participated in service learning project, called "Men as Peacemakers," helping elementary school students to develop positive life skills
- Supervised first-year students in health and human performance course for capstone project
- Transcribed and wrote life story essays for residents of long-term health care facility
- Promoted mental health awareness through "Make it OK" campaign with Northland Healthy Minds
- Member of the Wisconsin-Superior sustainability club
Video Interview with Dante Bender
Bender and Schwitters will receive a commemorative plaque with their name engraved on it. Together, they become the 15th group to win the UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award since its inception in 2008.
Past UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award winners:
?2021 – Jordan Sauve (University of Northwestern), Ryan Steger (College of St. Scholastica)
2020 – Riley Loukinen (North Central University), Liz Poskie (College of St. Scholastica), Talia Sherry (University of Northwestern)
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)