|
 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.
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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] |
