FREELAND, Mich. -- Calvin College's Anna Kamp has been named the recipient of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association's 2019 Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Female Scholar-Athlete Award.

Deemed the highest honor for an MIAA female student-athlete, 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.

"Every year I am impressed with the quality of student-athletes that are nominated for the Albert L. Deal and Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Scholar Athlete Awards, and this academic year was no exception," said MIAA Commissioner Penny Allen-Cook. "I've had the privilege to watch both Anna and Josh (Gibson, winner of Albert L. Deal Award) compete at the highest level of NCAA Division III competition over their 4 years as MIAA student-athletes. Their fierce competitive nature, coupled with their high character and poise under pressure, are traits that make it no surprise they also excelled in the classroom and within their communities. They have both represented their respective institutions and the MIAA well."

Kamp is the 10th student-athlete from Calvin and first since 2016 to receive the Kovalchik Award; Kamp is also the third of the Kamp family to be honored (Rebecca Kamp, 2012; Maggie Kamp, 2016).

Kamp graduated Calvin with a 3.78 grade-point average as a business major with a concentration in human resources, and a minor in psychology. A 2018 Google Cloud First-Team Academic All-American® and was named to the Calvin Dean's List eight times. A three-time MIAA Academic Honor Roll selection, Kamp was the Phyllis Van Dam De Vries Scholarship honoree and Kay Tiemersma Award winner.

Among Kamp's community activities were serving as a volleyball official at the Spring Games for Special Olympics Southwest Region, volunteering at Bethany Christian Services as both a mentor and donation sorter, and assisting with the Food Recovery Network.

During Kamp's four-year career on the Calvin volleyball team, the Orland Park, Ill. native was a three-time All-American and 2017 National Player of the Year, two-time MIAA Most Valuable Player, and was a key member on Calvin's 2016 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship-winning team. From 2015 to last fall, Calvin posted a 126-11 record with four MIAA Championships, three MIAA Tournament titles, and two appearances in the National Championship game; along with the team's 2016 national title, Kamp aided the Knights to a National Runner-Up finish in 2018.

Also nominated for the award were: Rachel Rodeheffer, Adrian College; Erin Goggins, Alma College; Shay Pinhey, Hope College; Cydney Martell, Kalamazoo; Michaela Kaliniak, Olivet; Kate Kelly, Saint Mary's; and Brandi Dawson, Trine University.

Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Female Scholar-Athlete Award winners

--MIAA--