Sports

Brighton 2011 Top Dog Wins Collegiate Scholar-Athlete Accolade

Brighton Alum Nick Schroeder was awarded the University of Evansville's signature scholar-athlete honor, the Heritage Federal Academic Community Award.

Heritage Federal Credit Union has honored Brighton High School’s 2011 Top Dog scholar-athlete Nick Schroeder with the University of Evansville’s signature scholar-athlete award, the 2012 Heritage Federal Academic Community Award. Schroeder was presented the honor at the Indiana school’s annual student-athlete academic honors breakfast.

The accolade recognizes academic achievement, community service, and campus leadership and includes a $1,012 scholarship and a plaque that is displayed in the Carson Center, the focal point of Evansville Purple Aces athletics.

“This was totally unexpected,” said Schroeder who plays target forward for the school’s NCAA Division I soccer team. “There are so many student-athletes in our athletic program at Evansville that are deserving of this recognition. I feel very fortunate and honored to have been selected.”

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Since his arrival on campus in August 2011, Schroeder has been impactful in all three areas considered for the honor.

His 3.97 cumulative grade-point average has made him a regular member of the dean’s list and has positively impacted his team, helping the Aces win the 2012 NSCAA College Team Academic Award with a team grade-point average of 3.14.

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And Schroeder’s academic performance also was a small, but positive factor in Evansville’s league-high overall student-athlete grade-point average of 3.28. The mark enabled the Aces’ athletic department to claim the 2012 Missouri Valley Conference All-Academic Trophy, snapping a five-year winning streak by Creighton University.

With direct entry in Evansville’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program and a minor in Public Health, Schroeder has sought out activities that positively impact wellness. During the summer he shadowed members of the Acute Cardiovascular and Injury Prevention Pediatrics teams while interning at the University of Michigan.

Other opportunities to serve have come as a member of his Purple Aces soccer team which is highly engaged in the Evansville community. Last spring Schroeder and his teammates helped model healthy lifestyle choices for elementary school children as part of the Aces’ Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds campaign. This fall the Aces assembled barricades for Evansville’s Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and volunteered at a Special Olympics bowling event.

Schroeder also has been impactful on the soccer pitch, helping to lead a young 2012 Aces soccer squad that included 19 underclassmen on a 24-player roster. He paced the team in scoring during league play with 5 points, notching the game-winner at Missouri State and assisting on the game-winner versus Central Arkansas. His steady performance through the season helped the Aces post winning overall (9-8-1) and league (3-2-1) marks and play their way into the de facto regular season league championship match versus #13 Creighton.

The Missouri Valley Conference recognized Schroeder as an MVC Noteworthy Performer and featured him in its broadcast of the Aces’ conference quarterfinal match versus Drake. Schroeder also headlined a group of nine all-league selections for the Aces, as conference coaches named him to the 2012 All-MVC Second Team and conference sports information directors tapped him for the 2012 All-MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team.

This article was submitted by Phyllis Zeek.


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