Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer

Ewald named NAIA A.O. Duer Scholarship Award Winner

Ewald named NAIA A.O. Duer Scholarship Award Winner

DEARBORN, Mich. - The University of Michigan-Dearborn softball team made history multiple times during the 2017 season, achieving firsts for the program and the athletics department with a Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference regular season championship, while taking home WHAC Player of the Year and the WHAC Coach of the Year awards.

Heading into the 2017-18 academic year, senior Jordan Ewald continued this trend by earning the WHAC nomination for the 2017 NAIA A.O. Duer Scholarship Award.

The NAIA announced Friday that Ewald has been selected as the national winner of the A.O. Duer Award, a first for any student-athlete at UM-Dearborn.

"I am humbled to have been considered and chosen to receive the NAIA A.O. Duer award," Ewald said. "I am extremely honored to have the opportunity to bring this award back to UM-Dearborn and bring the spotlight to the amazing progress and programs that this department continues to develop. Without the unwavering support of my family, teammates, coaches, and other administrators this would not have been possible. I owe them all unending thanks."

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. Presented by Daktronics, the A.O. Duer Scholarship has been awarded to one male and one female junior student-athlete. Each student receives a $1,000 scholarship.

"Jordan's accomplishments in the classroom, community and competition have been remarkable," UM-Dearborn Director of Athletics & Recreation Matt Beaudry said. "She truly embodies what it means to be a total student-athlete. To have a UM-Dearborn student-athlete named the 2017 A.O. Duer award recipient is very special. We are extremely proud of her."

The award is in addition to several Ewald has earned over the last year. Her honors included All-WHAC Academic Team, NAIA Scholar Athlete, CoSIDA Academic All-District Team and All-WHAC Second Team. She is also the UM-Dearborn career leader in doubles and RBIs after a successful season as a junior.

Ewald has been invited to the 2018 NAIA National Convention, April 13-17, 2018 in Kansas City. She will have the opportunity to receive her award on April 15, 2018 at the NAIA Awards Luncheon.

Softball falls to Ferrum 8-3
February 28, 2018 Softball falls to Ferrum 8-3