DEARBORN, Mich. - Heading into her senior season with the University of Michigan-Dearborn softball team, Jordan Ewald continues to accumulate honors, earning a nomination for a prestigious national scholarship award, it was announced Friday.

The Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference announced Ewald as the league's female representative for the A.O. Duer Scholarship Award presented by Daktronics. She joins Kyle Steigenga from Cornerstone University's men's basketball team as the WHAC nominees for the honor, to be decided later this year by the NAIA.

Named in honor of the NAIA's former executive secretary who served the association for 26 years, this award has been annually presented since 1967 to a male and female junior student-athlete in any sport who has excelled in scholarship, character, and citizenship.

Ewald's 2017 honors have included All-WHAC Academic Team, NAIA Scholar Athlete, CoSIDA Academic All-District Team and All-WHAC Second Team. She is the UM-Dearborn career leader in doubles and RBIs after another successful season as a junior.

"Jordan stands out as a leader and role model in the classroom, the department, and the community," said Eric Stark, UM-Dearborn Academic/Life Skills Coordinator and Head Volleyball Coach.

One male and one female from across the NAIA will be announced as the award winner in September, each receiving a scholarship.