Emme Olson Announced as Senior CLASS Award Candidate

 

[March 10, 2022] 

Illinois State softball standout Emme Olson is one of 30 NCAA Division I softball student-athletes selected as a candidate for the 2022 Senior CLASS Award, the organization announced Tuesday.

An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior or graduate student and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.

A second baseman/utility player from Hartsburg, Ill., Olson has been an excellent leader on the field, in the classroom and around her community.
 

She has started every game for the Redbirds since arriving on campus in 2019, including every game of the 2022 season so far. She has transitioned from playing shortstop to second base and is a team captain for the second year in a row.

Olson helped lead the Redbirds to Missouri Valley Conference regular season champions a year ago as she was third on the team in batting average with 41 hits, 28 RBI and four home runs. Her success on the field earned her a spot on the All-MVC Second Team.

Olson also leads by example in the classroom as the Accounting and Finance major has received numerous awards for her academic achievements. She earned MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team as a sophomore and received Honorable Mention as a junior. Olson has also earned the Presidents’ Council Academic Excellence Award, AFNI Honor Roll, and Dean’s List honors for the College of Business.

Olson is off to a great start in the 2022 season as she has started every game for the Redbirds at second base and hitting near the top of the lineup. She is currently second on the team in batting average, slashing .370 with 20 hits, four doubles, a home run, five RBI and four runs scored through 18 games.

The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists later in the season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.

The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2022 Women’s College World Series® in June.

[Claire Trattner
Athletics Communications GA (SB/FB)
Illinois State Athletics]