The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced the men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball student-athletes that have been named 2013 Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes. OLLU student-athletes Martin Hansson, Emily Backus, Alyssa Mora, Victoria Vazquez and Bryttany Willoughby are among the honorees.

Hansson, a senior on the men’s soccer team is receiving this award for the first time. Last year, he received the Champions of Character award, as well as conference scholar athlete honors. Read more online.

OLLU women’s soccer seniors Backus, Mora and Vazquez all three received the award last year. In addition, Backus has received the CoSIDA-Captial One Academic All-District Award, and all have been named conference scholar athletes in each of their years at OLLU. Read more online.

Willoughby, a junior on the volleyball team, is also receiving this award for the first time. In her previous two years at OLLU, she has received conference scholar athlete honors, as well as the CoSIDA-Capital One Academic All- District Award. Read more online.

In order to be nominated as a Scholar Athlete by an institution’s head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status.