OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Thirty of the top NCAA softball student-athletes who excel both on and off the field were selected as candidates for the 2020 Senior CLASS Award
® in collegiate softball. App State softball's
Keri White was selected as one of the 30.
"Keri is the epitome of who you would want in your program. She is one of the most competitive players I have ever coached and wants to win at everything she does, that is why she is successful in the classroom and on the field as well," head softball coach
Shelly Hoerner said.
"Keri sets the example as a leader for our team and goes above and beyond in the community. She loves helping students with special needs and that's why she will be a wonderful special education teacher. All of these qualities speak to her true character. For as successful as she has been, her character outweighs her talent."
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.
White, a third baseman from Hampstead, N.C., started at third base in all 56 games during her junior year. She was named to the All-Sun Belt Second Team after leading the Mountaineers in seven categories including runs scored (38), hits (66), doubles (11), triples (2), total bases (90), stolen bases (13) and at bats (190). She posted a .347 batting average alongside a .474 slugging percentage and was a perfect 13-for-13 stealing bases.
Off the field, White excels in the classroom as a special education major. She was named to the 2019 Sun Belt Commissioner's List for maintaining a 3.5 grade point average or better during the 2018-19 academic year. She has also been named to the App State Athletics Academic Honor Roll numerous times for having a GPA of 3.25 and above.
In the community, White has volunteered with her teammates at many different organizations including the Hospitality House and other organizations in the area. The App State softball team ranked eighth in community service among college softball teams, according to the Helper Helper platform. White is also active in the App State softball camps, teaching young girls the basics of softball.
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.
The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists later in the season, and those 10 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 candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2020 Women's College World Series.
For more information on all the candidates, visit
seniorCLASSaward.com.
