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 eight female and eight 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 17. The two award winners will be honored by their respective institutions and presented with a personalized plaque.
| 2024 UMAC Female Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award Finalists |
| Name |
School |
Major(s) |
Sport(s) |
Hometown / High School |
| Abby Skorenkyi |
Bethany Lutheran |
Art Education & Studio Art |
Basketball |
Redwood Falls, Minn. / Minnesota Valley Lutheran |
| Anna Anderson Sanchez |
Crown |
Elementary Education |
Cross Country, Track & Field |
Swanton, Vt. / Homeschool |
| Jordyn Heckendorf |
Martin Luther |
Physical Education |
Basketball, Softball |
Kewaskum, Wis. / Kettle Moraine Lutheran |
| Kiley Rodarmel |
Minnesota Morris |
Communications, Media & Rhetoric |
Tennis |
Sartell, Minn. / Sartell |
| Kayla Hola |
North Central |
Sports Management |
Basketball |
Bastrop, Texas / Bastrop |
| Kristen Vensland |
Northland |
Natural Resources Ecological Restoration, Fish and Wildlife Ecology |
Soccer |
Somerset, Wis. / Somerset |
| Caitlyn Pruis |
Northwestern |
Cyber Security & Information Systems, Bible |
Volleyball |
Sioux Falls, S.D. / Sioux Falls Christian |
| Kaylin Plautz |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Elementary Education |
Volleyball |
Elk River, Minn. / Elk River |
| 2024 UMAC Male Scholar-Athlete Leadership Award Finalists |
| Name |
School |
Major(s) |
Sport(s) |
Hometown / High School |
| Liam Peterson |
Bethany Lutheran |
Business Administration |
Soccer, Baseball |
Port Orchard, Wash. / Evergreen Lutheran |
| Jacob Van Dam |
Crown |
Sport Management |
Basketball, Baseball |
Edgerton, Minn. / Southwest MN Christian |
| Camden Sulzle |
Martin Luther |
Biblical Languages (Classical) |
Cross Country, Track & Field |
Redwood Falls, Minn. / Luther Prep |
| Blake Johnson |
Minnesota Morris |
Computer Science |
Football |
Cokato, Minn. / Dassel-Cokato |
| Derek Burgin |
North Central |
Youth Ministries |
Track & Field |
Moline, Ill. / Moline Senior |
| Jordan Brennan |
Northland |
Secondary Education - Math |
Basketball, Golf |
Ashland, Wis. / Ashland |
| Caleb Hoilien |
Northwestern |
Engineering, Bible |
Basketball, Track |
Minneapolis, Minn. / Hope Academy |
| Nate Ohman |
Wisconsin-Superior |
Math Education |
Track & Field |
Lake Nebagamon, Wis. / Northwestern |