ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - NC Wesleyan University women's soccer senior athlete Emily Ketchum was named as the 2021-22 Female Student-Athlete (Scholar Athlete) of the year, the NCWU athletics department announced this week. 

Ketchum was also awarded the Jim Sabiston Courage Award back in April at the Athletic Awards banquet also.

*This award honors an athlete's academics and athletic achievements and is separate from the Female Athlete of the Year award which will be announced next week. 

 Ketchum, a defender from Richlands, NC recently graduated with a GPA of 3.95 and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Exercise Science. Last season, she was named as an Academic All-South Region Scholar Athlete and was named to the United Coaches Scholar All-Region team in 2021. Ketchum has also been on the Academic All-Conference team during all four years of her career.

Emily's academic honors include the Presidential Honor List, Exercise Science Honors Award, and 1st place in this year's Math & Sciences Writing Competition. She also served as President of FCA and Vice President of both SAAC and the Science Club.

Athletically, Ketchum was named a 2021 USA South 2nd Team All-East Division Defender.

She was also the Taylor Rec Center Employee of the Year and the Student Coordinator of the TRC.

"Over the past four years I have had the opportunity to work with, instruct and coach Emily. She has been a tremendous impact on the field and in the classroom during her pursuance of her undergraduate degree at NC Wesleyan," commented head soccer coach Beverly Biancur.

"She earned a starting defensive position her first year and remained a starter for her entire collegiate career. Emily earned the respect of her teammates with an incredible work ethic and remained composed in even the most difficult game competitions," continued Biancur. "She became our captain this year and led our team to a 5th place finish in the 2022 USA South Women's Soccer Conference. Emily is one of the most competitive and driven players I have had the pleasure to coach."

"Emily is committed to several community outreach programs provided by our college and soccer program. She always looks to help others and promote her school, her team and her community in a positive light. She desires to complete and utilize her knowledge in exercise science to pursue a career in Physical Therapy."

"Emily is also involved in our Kix program, in which our team is allowed into area elementary schools and offer soccer clinics to over two hundred students daily. She has assisted in camps and community service programs throughout the Rocky Mount area," said Biancur. "She is always positive and compassionate as she helps to make these experiences unforgettable to all who participated with her. She has done all of this while working up to 20 hours a week as an intramural and recreational student supervisor." 

Schedule of Award Announcements:

July 13: Male Student-Athlete of the Year

July 14: Female Student-Athlete of the Year

July 15: Female Athlete of the Year

July 18: Male Athlete of the Year