Eckart Named a Finalist for SCAC Woman of the Year Award

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - Austin College women's soccer player Erin Eckart has been named one of five finalists for the 2017-18 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Woman of the Year Award, the league office has announced.

The award recognizes the conference's senior female student-athlete who has best distinguished herself throughout her collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence and service and leadership. To be nominated, student-athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2018 spring season, received her undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2018 term and had a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale).

Eckart, who graduated this spring with a grade-point-average of 3.55, excelled on the field and in the classroom throughout her four years at Austin College. She was a three-time member of the SCAC Academic Honor Roll, and was named an All-Conference performer on the soccer field all four years, including being named first team All-SCAC in 2016. This past year, she was a second team All-SCAC selection.

Eckart also served as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, including serving as its president this past year. She has also represented Austin College at conference-wide SAAC events. Eckart, a native of Norman, Oklahoma, was named the Tim Jubela Award winner as the most outstanding freshman female student-athlete, and this year was named the Slats McCord Award winner, reflecting senior perseverence and improvement throughout the course of her career.

Eckart has also worked as a volunteer at Rainas Primary School of Taklung village development committee of Gorkha District in 2017, and as a Camp Counselor at Cleveland County YMCA. She's also worked as a group leader at the Sherman Boys and Girls Club.

The NCAA and SCAC Woman of the Year Award was established in 2005-06, with Austin College having won once previously when volleyball player Shelby Eaves earned the honor in 2014.