GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Conference Carolinas office announced their Fall Scholar-Athletes of the Year, Converse University junior cross country runner Ruth Spijker (Sint Pancras, The Netherlands) won for women's cross country.   
 
Spijker helped the Valkyries to a runner-up finish this season at the Conference Carolinas Championships. Individually, Spijker finished fourth overall at the Conference Carolinas Championship event and was named First Team All-Conference for the third year in a row.
 
Academically, Spijker is a Chemistry major with a 4.0 Grade Point Average (GPA). The junior has already appeared on the dean's list numerous times in her career, along with being named to the Conference Carolinas Academic All-Conference team, and to the Conference Carolinas Presidential Honor Roll.
 
The Scholar-Athlete awards are awarded annually to one individual in each Conference Carolinas sponsored sport. The Scholar-Athlete of the Year winners are chosen by the Conference Carolinas Student-Athlete Affairs and Awards Committee. To be considered, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or higher. In addition, the nominees for the award must have been named all-conference in their sport and also chosen for the academic all-conference team.
 
2024-25 Conference Carolinas Fall Scholar-Athletes of the Year Presented by Hudl
 
Men's Cross Country: Nathan Gallman, Belmont Abbey
Women's Cross Country: Ruth Spijker, Converse
Men's Soccer: Sacha De Corte, Young Harris
Women's Soccer: Anna Grossheim, UNC Pembroke
Women's Volleyball: Ashlyn Stone, Mount Olive
 
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