UMAC Announces 2023 UMAC Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award Finalists
ST. PAUL, MN - 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 seven female and seven 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 12. The award winners will be honored by their respective institutions and presented with a personalized plaque.
2023 UMAC Female Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award Finalists
| Cianna Hoppe |
Bethany Lutheran |
Lewiston, MN / Luther |
Cross Country, Track & Field |
| Abby Pausch |
Crown |
Sleepy Eye, MN |
Cross Country, Track & Field |
| Kylie Wolf |
Martin Luther |
Greenville, WI / Fox Valley Lutheran |
Volleyball, Softball |
| Elizabeth Lofstad |
North Central |
Circle Pines, MN / Centennial |
Cross Country, Track & Field |
| Adrianna Johnson |
Minnesota Morris |
Verdi, MN / Pipestone |
Softball |
| Taylar Smith |
Northwestern |
Litchfield, MN / Litchfield |
Tennis |
| Kasha Hughlett |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Maple, WI / Northwestern |
Track & Field |
2023 UMAC Male Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award Finalists
| Jakin Anderson |
Bethany Lutheran |
Belle Plaine, MN / Minnesota Valley Lutheran |
Cross Country, Track & Field |
| Alec Testerman |
Crown |
Winchester, CA / Vista Murrieta |
Basketball |
| Ezra Blumer |
Martin Luther |
Lakeville, MN / Saint Croix Lutheran Academy |
Basketball, Soccer |
| Weston Buckley |
North Central |
Budapest, Hungary / International Christian School of Budapest |
Soccer |
| Cody Nye |
Minnesota Morris |
Soldotna, AK / Soldotna |
Track & Field |
| Colin Hemann |
Northwestern |
Newton, IA / Newton |
Tennis |
| Nate Ohman |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Lake Nebagamon, WI / Northwestern |
Track & Field |