2012 Scholar-Athlete of the Year Nominees – UMKC
Each day, The Summit League will feature one institution’s male and female student-athlete nominees for The Summit League Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, the highest award bestowed by the league. The award honors the outstanding academic achievement, athletic achievement, attitude and leadership of one male and one female student-athlete. The award is voted on by the league’s faculty athletic representatives and will be announced on Thursday, June 28.
UMKC’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year Nominees
Cosmas Ayabei, Cross Country and Track & Field
Jr. // 3.57 GPA // Major: Liberal Arts // Minor:
Pre-Nursing
Academic Achievements
2012 USTFCCCA Division I All-Academic honoree and Summit League
Distinguished Scholar … two-Time Jack Gant Award winner
… Three-time Summit League Academic All-League and UMKC
Scholar-Athlete selection … Named the 2009-10 Jim and Sally
Job Award winner.
Athletic Achievements
2011 USTFCCCA All-Region honoree … Three-time Summit League
All-League selection …First UMKC student-athlete to qualify
for the NCAA Cross Country Championships … UMKC record
holder in the 3,000 and 10,000 meters … Combined three-time
champion at the 2011 Indoor and Outdoor Summit League Championships
… 2011 Indoor Track Championship MVP and finished
5th in the NCAA West Preliminary Round … Earned a
bronze and silver at the 2010 Summit League Championships.
Other Campus Curricular or Extracurricular
Activities
Participated in the UMKC Women’s Center Walk-A-Mile
in Her Shoes, the Harvesters (food bank collection) and reading to
students at Center Middle School … Has worked for the UMKC
Student Union.
Ayabei’s complete UMKC bio.
Kaelene Curry, Softball
Sr. // 3.98 GPA // Major: Psychology
Academic Achievements
Two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American and All-District selection
… Four-time Summit League Academic All-League, Distinguished
Scholar and Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence
honoree … Named to the UMKC Dean’s List and a UMKC
Scholar-Athlete all four years … Member of the Psi Chi Honor
Society.
Athletic Achievements
UMKC’s all-time career leader in hits and runs … 2011
Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division All-Central Region second team
… The 2011 Player of the Year and first team All-League
honoree … In 2011, led the league in run and ranked second
in hits … In 2010, led the league in on-base
percentage, batting average and runs per game.
Other Campus Curricular or Extracurricular
Activities
Four-year volunteer for Tunk or Treat … Four-time
team captain … Also volunteered for Operation Breakthrough,
UMKC’s Women’s Center Walk-A-Mile, Healthy Hawks,
Softball Blood Drive and SAAC.
Curry’s complete UMKC bio.
Previously Highlighted Nominees:
IPFW - Drew Imel & Lauren McCracken
IUPUI - Perez Agaba & Elizabeth Bourgeois
