Feb. 20, 2014
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech senior catcher Alysha Rudnik is one of 30 NCAA softball student-athletes selected as candidates for the 2014 senior CLASS Award, which were announced Thursday by the organization.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence – community, classroom, character and competition. The complete list of candidates follows this release.
Rudnik is one of two representatives from the Atlantic Coast Conference among the 2014 candidates, the other being Notre Dame’s Laura Winter. Last year’s winner was Kayla Braud of Alabama.
A native Lawrenceville, Ga., Rudnik is a two-time All-ACC First Team pick and last season she recorded the second-highest batting average on the team and in the ACC (.399) with 49 RBI on 59 hits and 44 runs.
Academically, Rudnik is a business administration major with a concentration in operations and supply chain management with a 3.56 cumulative GPA. She is a five-time member of the Dean’s List, as well as a three-time selection to the ACC All-Academic team and ACC Honor Roll (2011-13).
Rudnik is not only a leader on the softball field and classroom, but also in the community and even at home. Since 1997, Alysha and her six siblings (four by birth and two adopted) have had the opportunity to be a sister or brother to more than 50 foster brothers and sisters. In addition, Rudnik has been involved in seven community service groups, including the Girls on the Run program and Michael Isenhour Toy Drive since her freshman year.
The 2014 candidate class includes 13 student-athletes who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Four were named to the CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-American team, and nine were members of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-America team in 2013.
The candidate class will be narrowed to 10 finalists midway through the regular season, and those names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select one finalist who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2014 NCAA Women’s College World Series® in Oklahoma City May 29 through June 4.
Softball Candidates
Elizabeth Arana, Stephen F. Austin
Kate Bowen, Manhattan
Morgan Boyd, Norfolk State
Hannah Campbell, South Alabama
Becca Changstrom, Creighton
Tatum Edwards, Nebraska
Dallas Escobedo, Arizona State
Brittany Gardner, Loyola Chicago
Jennifer Gilbert, Ball State
Meghan Harman, Loyola Marymount
Kaila Hunt, Alabama
Kaitlin Inglesby, Washington
Katie Keller, Louisville
Kasey Lange, Harvard
Aubrey Mable, Bryant
Mari Majam, Northwestern
Destinee Martinez, Oklahoma
Jayme Mask, Boston
Sara Moulton, Minnesota
Sara Nevins, South Florida
Erika Polidori, Oakland
Hannah Rogers, Florida
Alysha Rudnik, Georgia Tech
Kourtney Salvarola, South Florida
Nicole Sappingfield, Michigan
Madison Shipman, Tennessee
Jayna Spivey, Southern Illinois
Andie Varsho, Purdue
Bailey Wigness, Arizona State
Laura Winter, Notre Dame
