Aug. 18, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- Former Samford soccer player Val Kikkert has been nominated for the NCAA's Woman of the Year award for the 2008-09 season. The award reflects the growth in opportunity for women to achieve as students, athletes and leaders. NCAA schools nominated 418 individuals for the national award.

"Val is the prototypical student-athlete," said Michelle Durban, Assistant Athletic Director of Compliance and supervisor of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). "She always went above and beyond what she was required to do to represent Samford is the best light. This recognition is not only an honor for her but for Samford University as well"

Kikkert was named Miss Bulldog at the first edition of the SAMSPYS, student-athlete awards, this past April. She served as the co-chair of SAAC, and the sports editor of both the student newspaper, The Crimson, and the Samford yearbook, Entre Nous.

She helped initiate student-athlete visits to Children's Hospital and has played a large part in initiating and implementing SAAC's three major charitable fundraisers.

Kikkert also works with North Star Ministries and she devotes time to building relationships with girls at the juvenile detention center. She is an advocate against human trafficking in the locally and globally, and has served as a camp counselor for the past two summers for the FCA. She has been to Jamaica four times in the last three years on mission trips and has written and lead bible studies for young girls.

Kikkert graduated in May with a 3.73 GPA in journalism and mass communications with a minor in business.

The Top 30 honorees will be announced in the NCAA news in late August, ten selected from each division.