EUGENE, Ore. – The Northwest Christian University commencement ceremonies took place on Saturday, May 9. In addition to a host of student athletes receiving their diploma’s Assistant Athletic Director Sarah Freeman was named the 2015 recipient of the President’s Award for Exemplary Staff Performance and Campus Leadership.
The award is presented not only to honor an excellent staff worker, but also a staff member who models the kind of leadership that NCU strives to teach their students. Freeman was honored for demonstrating high professional standards, ethical decision-making, a commitment to building the strength of the department and the campus overall, and an effective integration of faith and service in the workplace.
Freeman is known on the NCU campus for the passion that she displays for mentorship and a strong commitment to her faith. She leads the NCU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and for the past two years has helped to chair the Cascade Collegiate Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Committee as well.
Michael Fuller, Vice President for Student Development and Enrollment, said, “We are truly blessed to have a leader like Sarah as a part of NCU and specifically as a key role player in our athletic program. Sarah is an innovative leader who is well known and respected for her hard work ethic, vision, and how she takes care of our student-athletes. She emulates what is right about college athletics and Christian higher education. We are very proud of her.”
“I am humbled and honored to win this award,” said Freeman. “I truly have the best job and love working with everyone in the athletic department and across campus.”
Freeman received a cash prize of $1,000 plus an engraved plaque. She is the first athletic staff member to be honored with the award.
In addition, 25 former student-athletes received degrees from the school, including 22 undergraduates and three at the graduate level.
Four students earned Northwest Christian’s highest academic honor, Summa Cum Laude. This honor, given to students who graduate with a 3.9 GPA or higher, was bestowed upon men’s soccer player Josh Bramlett, women’s soccer player and graduate assistant Megan Baum, women’s basketball player Allie Kelsey, and men’s track & field athlete Tyler Fox. In total, 14 student-athletes graduated with honors.