The Northern Sun Conference announced that Wayne State seniors Megan Gebhardt and Joey Lenihan have been selected as the Women’s and Men’s Honor Student Athlete Award Winners for 2016-17.
Each NSIC institution nominates one male and one female student-athlete for the Britton and Kelly Scholar Athlete Award. The nominees must meet criteria that includes: a grade-point average of 3.5 or better (on a 4.0 scale), evidence of academic excellence beyond the minimum grade point average (scholarship prizes and other academic recognition), evidence of participation in the life of the institution and evidence of participation in at least two-thirds of the varsity events of the individual’s primary sport.
Gebhardt, a finance major from Norfolk, has a 4.0 GPA and will obtain her bachelor degree in just three years while playing volleyball at Wayne State College. On the court, she started all 32 matches this season for the Wildcats and averaged 10.13 assists and 1.97 digs per set, ranking ninth in the NSIC in assists per set. Gebhardt helped Wayne State to a 24-8 record and a trip to the NCAA Div. II National Tournament for the 11th time in the last 12 years.
Off the court, Gebhardt’s volunteer work includes helping the Wayne Green Team, WSC Student Food Pantry, Mercy Meals, raking leaves through Cup of Grace, nursing home visits, Faith Regional Health Services Gift Shop, Highway 35 cleanup, coaching Wayne youth volleyball teams, gift wrapping for the Wakefield community and working with the second grade class at Wayne Elementary School.
Lenihan, a sport management major from Wayne, has a 3.76 GPA as a member of the Wildcat baseball team. Joey was leading the team in saves (2) and second in appearances (12) when he suffered a season-ending arm injury on April 14 vs. Bemidji State. Last season, Lenihan led the team in saves (3) and appearances (18) while ranking second on the team in earned run average (5.75).
Off the field, Lenihan has represented baseball on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee for two years and is serving as President this year. He is actively a part of the Team Impact Program, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, has served a volunteer coach for the Wayne American Legion Baseball program in the summer, volunteered with Trick For Treat Canned Food Drive and worked as a volunteer server for the Wakefield Pancake Feed. Earlier this year, Lenihan received the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic With Distinction Award.
Gebhardt and Lenihan will also be honored as the NSIC Male and Female Honor Student-Athletes of the Year at Wayne State College and will each receive a $2,500 post-graduate scholarship.
