CALVIN KNIGHT SPORTS REPORT FOR June 14, 2013
Carissa Verkaik Named Recipient of Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Scholar-Athlete
Award
MIAA
ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Awards by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
to the outstanding senior athletes from its member schools during the 2012-13
academic year have been announced by Commissioner David Neilson.
Cory Schmidt of Hope College has received the Albert L. Deal Scholar-Athlete
Award, while Carissa Verkaik of Calvin College has been presented the Sheila
Wallace Kovalchik Scholar-Athlete Award.
"Cory and Carissa have had marvelous careers these last four years in the
classroom, on the field, and as role models in our conference. They will be
missed, but their selection for these awards from such an exceptional group of
nominees is an achievement for which they should take great pride,"
Commissioner Neilson said.
The awards recognize senior class athletes who have excelled in academics and
athletics, as well as displayed outstanding leadership in their respective
communities. The awards honor two former MIAA commissioners, Albert Deal
(1971-91) and Sheila Wallace Kovalchik (1991-2002).
Cory Schmidt
A native of Milan, Ohio and graduate of Edison High School, Cory Schmidt
lettered four times in baseball at Hope during his career. He was named to the
All-MIAA second team in baseball in 2012 and 2013.
A left-handed pitcher, Schmidt compiled a 15-5 record during his career,
allowing only one home run in 136 innings and posting a 2.93 earned run
average. He posted a 6-2 record with a 3.23 ERA in 55-2/3 innings pitched this
past spring for the Flying Dutchmen. In league play, he was 4-1 with a 2.50
ERA, walking only six batters over nearly 40 innings as Hope won a share of its
first MIAA championship since 2007.
A psychology major at Hope, Schmidt graduated Phi Beta Kappa in May with a
3.95 grade point average. He was selected to the Capital One NCAA Division III
Academic All-America second team this spring and was a four-time member of the
MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
Schmidt was involved in numerous campus and community activities during his
four years at Hope. He worked in the college’s Writing Center for three years,
was a help session leader for organic chemistry classes, took part in
student-faculty research, served as an orientation leader on campus and was a
member of a student panel on health professions.
In addition, he worked with at-risk students for two years as a tutor in
Hope’s Children’s After School Achievement program, and volunteered with
Heights of Hope, a faith-based neighborhood outreach ministry in Holland,
Mich.
Schmidt was named this spring as the recipient of Hope’s Otto van der Velde
All-Campus Award, given to a senior male student-athlete for outstanding
contributions in athletics, scholarship and participation in student activites.
He will begin classes this fall at the University of Toledo College of
Medicine.
Cory Schmidt is the son of Dr. Eric and Dr. Jane Schmidt of Milan, Ohio.
Other nominees for the Albert L. Deal Award were C.J. Carroll of Albion, Dan
Kerr of Calvin, Alex Armstrong of Kalamazoo, Cole Dehen of Olivet and Matt
Zurbriggen of Trine.
Carissa Verkaik
A native of Holland, Mich. and graduate of Holland Christian High School,
Carissa Verkaik won eight letters as a student-athlete at Calvin, four in
basketball and four in track and field. She was a seven-time All-MIAA selection
during her career, four times in basketball and three in track and field.
In basketball, Verkaik became the first women’s basketball player in MIAA
history to be named the conference’s Most Valuable Player four consecutive
years and only the third player to be named first team All-MIAA all four years.
She also graduated as the conference’s all-time career scoring leader, scoring
1,219 points in 64 league games for an average of 19.0 points per game. She
finished as Calvin’s all-time leader in career scoring (2,236 points),
rebounding (1,071) and blocked shots (440).
Verkaik won numerous national honors in her senior year, including the 2013
Jostens Trophy as the most outstanding NCAA Division III women’s basketball
student-athlete. She was also named the national Player of the Year by
d3hoops.com and Women’s Division III News, and was a two-time finalist for the
State Farm/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division III Player of the
Year award.
Verkaik also excelled as a high jumper for the Knights, winning the MIAA
championship in the event three times and qualifying for the NCAA national meet
twice.
Verkaik graduated in May from Calvin with a degree in education, finishing
with a 3.77 grade point average. She was a member of the Dean’s List at Calvin
all four years, a four-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll, and a
two-time Capital One Academic All-America selection (2012 and 2013). Last
winter, she was named the national Division III Academic All-America of the
Year in women’s basketball by the College Sports Information Directors of
America.
Verkaik was also active in numerous activities in the community. Some of her
volunteer activities include serving as a mentor in the Special Olympics
program, serving as a tutor with local elementary school children, serving as a
praise and worship leader in her church and organizing a middle-school book
club group. This past spring she has served as a student teacher at Potter's
House Christian School in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Verkaik was recently was named the co-recipient of the Kay Tiemersma Award,
presented annually to Calvin’s most outstanding senior female student-athlete.
She was also named Michigan Female College Athlete of the Year by the Detroit
Athletic Club.
Carissa Verkaik is the daughter of Mike and Dawn Verkaik of Holland, Mich.
Other nominees for the Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Award were Kelly Eberhardt of
Adrian, Kristin Nelson of Albion, Libby Westrate of Hope, Megan Martinez of
Kalamazoo, Caitlin LaValley of Olivet, Morgan Bedan of Saint Mary’s and Andrea
Gasco of Trine.
Received on Fri Jun 14 15:55:00 2013
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