LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference announced today the seven finalists for the 2017 SCAC Woman of the Year award. The award recognizes the conference’s senior female student-athlete who has best distinguished herself throughout her collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence and service and leadership. Past Winners
Member schools were permitted to submit two nominations if at least one of the nominees was a woman of color or international student-athlete.
This year's finalists include: Abbe Holtze of Colorado College, Jessie Koster of the University of Dallas, Courtney Reopelle of Schreiner University, Nikki Welch of Southwestern University, Amanda Lochte of Texas Lutheran University and Jordan Leeper and Monica Holguin of Trinity University.
To be nominated, student-athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2017 spring season, received her undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2017 term and had a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale).
Scroll below to read a quick bio on each of the seven finalists:
Abbe Holtze, Colorado College
Volleyball
- Graduated as a Mathematics major with a 3.21 GPA
- Two-time SCAC Academic Honor Roll honoree (2013 and 2014)
- SCAC Freshman of the Year (2013)
- SCAC Player of the Year (2014 and 2016)
- Four-time AVCA All-West Region Team (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016)
- Four-time AVCA All-American (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016)
- Laura Golden Award (awarded to the female athlete who by her excellence in athletics, leadership and college contribution best exemplifies the high standards set by Laura Golden)
- SCAC Character and Community award (2016)
- Volunteer with Saint Sebastian Sports Project (2009-present)
- Chaired CC’s annual Dig Pink fundraiser (2015-16)
- Volunteered with Soles for Souls, a nonprofit dedicated to ensure everyone has a good pair of shoes
- SAAC President (2016-17), member of SAAC (2014-2017)
- Member of Colorado College Honor Council, Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority, National Society of Leadership and Success
Jessie Koster, University of Dallas
Volleyball
- Graduated as a Biology major with a 3.85 GPA
- Four-time SCAC Academic Honor Roll honoree (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016)
- 2017 NCAA postgraduate scholarship award winner
- Member of Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society and Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
- CoSIDA Academic All-American (2016)
- Two-time All-SCAC selection (2015 and 2016)
- SCAC Backrow Player of the Year (2016)
- AVCA First Team All-Region selection (2016)
- NCAA leader in digs-per-set (2015 and 2016), leader in total digs (2016)
- Panel Member for the University of Dallas Athletic Department (2017)
- Volunteer teacher assistant at Keller Harvel Elementary School (2016-17)
Courtney Reopelle, Schreiner University
Volleyball
- Graduated as an English major with a 3.86 GPA
- Four-time SCAC Academic Honor Roll honoree (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016)
- Named to SCAC All-Sportsmanship Team (2013)
- Member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society (2013-17), Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society (2015-17) and the National Society of Leadership and Success (2015-17)
- Volunteer with Sinton Kiwanis Club Annual Gold Tournament (2012-17), SAAC Change for the Better (2014-16) and Stop Hunger Now
- Received Schreiner President’s Scholarship
Nikki Welch, Southwestern University
Volleyball
- Graduated as a Psychology major with a 3.40 GPA
- Two-time SCAC Academic Honor Roll honoree (2015 and 2016)
- CoSIDA Academic All-District (2016)
- Two-time All-SCAC Setter (2015 and 2016)
- Third-place in NCAA Volleyball Championship tournament (2016)
- Coordinator of Community-Engaged Learning for Southwestern
- Member of Young Life Georgetown (2013-17)
- Member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority (2014-17)
- Volunteer with BIG (Brookwood in Georgetown) (2017)
- Intern with the Arbor Behavorial Healthcare and Treatment Center
- Volunteer with The Big Event (2013-16)
Amanda Lochte, Texas Lutheran University
Softball
- Graduated as an Exercise Science (Pre-Physical Therapy) major with a 3.97 GPA
- Four-time SCAC Academic Honor Roll honoree (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017)
- CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year for Softball (2017)
- Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American (2016 and 2017)
- Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District (2016 and 2017)
- Two-time All-SCAC Pitcher (2016 and 2017)
- NFCA Second Team All-Region (2017)
- Four-Time SCAC Championship team (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017)
- Member of Texas Lutheran SAAC (2014-17), Fellowship of Christian Athletes (2013-17), Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society (2014-17), Alpha Chi Honor Society (2014-17), TLU Black & Gold President’s Council (2015-17), Love Your Melon Campus Crew (2015-17) and TLU Honors Program (2014-17)
- Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity (2015-17), Seguin Special Olympics (2014-16), Guadalupe Regional Medical Center (2015), LULAC Community Garden (2014-15) and Seguin Outdoor Learning Center (2013-15)
Monica Holguin, Trinity University
Women’s Basketball
- Graduated as a Business – Marketing major with a 3.37 GPA
- Three-time SCAC Academic Honor Roll honoree (2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17)
- Two-time SCAC Player of the Year (2015-16 and 2016-17)
- Three-time All-SCAC selection (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17)
- Two-time D3hoops.com All-American (2015-16 and 2016-17)
- Two-time D3hoops.com All-Region selection (2015-16 and 2016-17)
- Volunteer with Morgan’s Wonderland (2017), Autism Walk of San Antonio (2017), Children’s Shelter (2016), Sunshine Cottage (2016), One for Autism San Antonio (2016), ARC of San Antonio (2016), Travis Park (2015) and Rescue Mission of El Paso (2013)
Jordan Leeper, Trinity University
Women’s Soccer
- Graduated as a Communication and Business Administration major with a 3.70 GPA
- Four-time SCAC Academic Honor Roll honoree (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016)
- CoSIDA Academic All District Team (2016)
- Richard O. Blanchard Communication Award for Academic Excellence (2017)
- Three-time All-SCAC defender (2014, 2015 and 2016)
- NSCAA All-American defender (2017)
- NCAA Women’s Soccer Championsip Tournament Runner-Up (2013)
- Four-time SCAC regular season and tournament champion (2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016)
- Volunteer with PAWS at San Antonio Pets Alive (2014-17) and Kinetic Kids (2017)
- School of Business student panelist (2016-17)
- Member of YoungLife (2013-17)
