General

Anderson, Paredes nominated for 2024-25 DIIICA Student-Athletes of the Year award

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Two Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) student-athletes are in contention for the Division III Commissioners Association (DIIICA) Student-Athlete of the Year awards. Jenna Anderson and Alex Paredes, both from UW-Superior, are the UMAC nominees for the women’s and men’s award, respectively.

The award honors graduating student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics, leadership, and service. Graduating seniors (or a graduated student-athlete that has not been nominated before) are the only student-athletes eligible for this award.

The male and female regional award winners will be announced later this month. Those individuals will be forwarded to the Awards Committee for national consideration.

This marks the third year for this national award.

UMAC's previous nominees:
2022-23: Cody Nye (Minnesota Morris); Kasha Hughlett (UW-Superior)
2023-24: Liam Peterson (Bethany Lutheran); Marylyn Schroyer (Northwestern)

Jenna Anderson 
UW-Superior | Volleyball

Academic & Athletic accomplishments:
  • Summa Cum Laude Graduate
  • Eight-time member of the Dean's List 
  • 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American (Third-team)
  • Three-time CSC Academic All-District 
  • Four-time Upper Midwest Athletic All-Conference (UMAC) Academic All-Conference
  • UMAC Scholar Athlete of the Year nominee
  • 2024 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American 
  • 2024 AVCA First-team All-Region 
  • 2024 UMAC Player of the Year
  • 2024 UMAC Defensive Player of the Year
  • Four-time All-Conference (two First-team selections)
Community service involvements: 
  • Two-year UMAC SAAC President
  • Four-year UMAC SAAC member
  • Four-year UWS SAAC President and member
  • Four-year Week of Giving member
  • Two-year Yellowjacket for a Day volunteer



Alex Paredes
UW-Superior | Men’s Soccer

Academic & Athletic accomplishments:
  • Five-time member of the Dean’s List
  • Two-time CSC Academic All-District
  • Three-time Academic All-Conference
  • UMAC Scholar Athlete of the Year nominee
  • Member of the 2024 NCAA Sweet 16 team 
  • 2024 United Soccer Coaches All-Region
  • Two-time All-Conference

Community service involvements: 
  • Four-year member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
  • Four-year volunteer with Caroling for Cans
  • Four-year Salvation Army bell ringer
  • Two-year coach/mentor for young area athletes
  • UWS SAAC member
  • Counselor for Little Yellowjackets Summer Camp program
  • Volunteer with Alzheimer's School of Business and Economics planning committee
  • Three-year coach with Superior Soccer Association
  • Three-year coach with Hermantown Youth Soccer Association
  • Three-year coach with Gitchi Gummi Soccer Club