Wingate's Holmquist Named SAC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Wingate's Anna Holmquist was voted the South Atlantic Conference volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the Conference office announced today.
The South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the Conference's championship sports, and is voted on by the SAC's Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee. The winners are selected based on their achievements in academics, athletics, service, and leadership.
Holmquist, a senior middle blocker, is majoring in political science with a grade point average of 3.943. The Lincoln, Neb. native has racked up academic and athletic accolades. In the classroom, she has been named to the President's List every year; she is in the Wingate honors program and was named the Outstanding Student in Political Science in the spring of 2018. Holmquist has been named to the Academic All-District team and to the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll. She was also named the 2017 SAC Volleyball Elite 20 winner for having the highest GPA at the 2017 SAC Volleyball Championship.
On the court, Holmquist has collected honors throughout her career, including being named AVCA Third-Team All-America, AVCA and D2CCA All-Region and she is a two-time All-Conference selection. She was also named to the SAC All-Freshman team and to the SAC All-Tournament team. She was a part of three SAC regular season championships, two SAC tournament championships, and four NCAA tournament appearances during her time with the Bulldogs.
"As Anna completes her final year at Wingate, this is yet another prestigious academic honor that reflects her strong commitment as a student-athlete," said Wingate volleyball head coach Shelton Collier. "We are so proud of everything that Anna has accomplished here as a player and as a student, and with this recognition as the SAC Scholar-Athlete, along with her other notable accolades and awards, she continues to bring so much positive attention to our volleyball program and to Wingate University. There are many exceptional students playing volleyball in our conference so I know this award is meaningful to Anna".
Holmquist's service has not only included the surrounding community of Wingate, but also her hometown of Lincoln. While a Bulldog, she has been an academic tutor in Spanish, political science, English, and history. She also participated in and directed the volleyball team's involvement in Wingate's United Way Day of Caring and she has been a research assistant to a political science professor and co-author of a paper on international women's rights.
Holmquist was an undergraduate presenter at the North Carolina Political Science Association Annual Conference this past spring. In the fall of 2018, she was a peer mentor for Gateway 101, a freshman course that helps new students develop academic and leadership skills. Holmquist published a paper in the Wingate Research Review this fall, entitled "Analyzing HPV Vaccination Policy".
Every summer in Nebraska, Holmquist has been busy interning and volunteering her time. She has coached middle and high school girls' volleyball at a local club. Holmquist has interned with a national non-profit (American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska). As a volunteer, she has been involved with a Nebraska health/civic awareness festival, aided the Inspector General of Child Welfare and severed as an ELL volunteer and trainee at Lincoln Literacy (non-profit that connects non-English speakers with tutors to help them learn the language). She also volunteered her time at the Lincoln Lighthouse, an after-school non-profit that helps at-risk youth graduate from high school and gives them a safe and engaging place.
SAC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete Finalists
Emily Conlin, Anderson
Taylor du Bray, Coker
Angelica Arroyo, Lenoir-Rhyne
Erica Whiteaker, Lincoln Memorial
Logan Witt, Queens
Cassie Born, Tusculum
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