Freeland, Mich. -- Hope College's Erin Herrmann has been the recipient of the 2017 Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Female Scholar-Athlete Award.

"We are honored to select Erin Herrmann as the Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Scholar-Athlete Award recipient for this year," said Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Commissioner Penny Allen-Cook. "In a field of extremely worthy nominations across the MIAA, Erin's success in competition and in the classroom, as well as her commitment to her community, elevated her to the top of the list. We are proud to have a student-athlete with Erin's character represent the best of the best in the MIAA."

The Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Female Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes graduating female seniors who have excelled in academics and athletics, as well as displayed outstanding leadership in their respective communities. The award honors former MIAA Commissioner Sheila Wallace Kovalchik, who served the conference as commissioner from 1991 to 2002.

"I am really honored to be thought of and recognized," Herrmann said. "There are a lot of really great student-athletes at Hope and in the MIAA. The fact I was chosen for this award really means a lot. Thank you to those who nominated me for and believed I was worthy of getting this award. I can't thank the whole school and my teammates enough. I wouldn't haven't been to achieve what I have and receive this award if it wasn't for them."

Herrmann's athletic success culminated last month with her NCAA Division III National Championship in the women's 3,000m steeplechase victory, with her time ranking ninth-fastest in NCAA Division III history and establish an MIAA and Hope College record. Her national title complemented her national runner-up finish in 2016.

For her track and field career, Herrmann was named the MIAA Most Valuable Runner in 2017 and was a three-time All-MIAA honoree. 

Herrmann's cross country accomplishments included winning the 2016 MIAA Women's Cross Country Championship and the 2016 NCAA Great Lakes Regional before finishing fourth at the 2016 NCAA Division III National Championship. Her efforts capped a storied career that included four NCAA Championship appearances and two top 10 team finishes.

Academically, Herrmann has a 3.90 grade-point average and is on track to graduate in December, 2017 with a degree in Elementary Education with an Endorsement in Special Education Learning Disabilities. Herrmann has been named to the Hope College Dean's List all four years and a four-time recipient of MIAA Academic Honor Roll honors.

Herrmann's community contributions include working with the Children's Advocacy Center, Kids Food Basket, and teaching Sunday school. She also worked with Alpha Phi Omega and Omicron Delta Kappa.

This fall, Herrmann will student teach at a school in Denver, Colorado, educating refugee children.

Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Female Scholar-Athlete Award winners

--MIAA--