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For the second time during the 2015-16 academic year, a Western Illinois University student-athlete received one of the most prestigious academic awards handed out by the NCAA. Softball student-athlete Karissa Kouchis was selected to receive a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, becoming the eighth Western Illinois athlete to earn the award.
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Kouchis Named NCAA Postgraduate Scholar

July 26, 2016

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Courtesy of WIU Athletics

INDIANAPOLIS, IN/MACOMB, IL – For the second time during the 2015-16 academic year, a Western Illinois University student-athlete received one of the most prestigious academic awards handed out by the NCAA. Softball student-athlete Karissa Kouchis was selected to receive a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, becoming the eighth Western Illinois athlete to earn the award.

Not only does Kouchis join elite company in WIU athletic department history, she's also the second Leatherneck student-athlete this academic year who is an Orland Park, Illinois native and Carl Sandburg High School graduate to receive a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship (joining fall recipient Victoria Kappel from women's soccer).

Kouchis joins former Leatherneck recipients: Todd Hutcheson (men's basketball), Jeff McKinney (football), Ken Dugans (men's soccer), Paul Singer (football), Justin Langan (men's soccer/football), Jimmy Holtschlag (football) and Kappel.

"I feel incredibly blessed to be the recipient of the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. I am very appreciative of the NCAA's confidence in me, and willingness to contribute to my postgraduate goals. I would like to express my most sincere gratitude to Western Illinois University for encouraging me to pursue athletics, academics, and community involvement to my fullest potential," said Kouchis. "I would like to thank my family, coaches, professors, advisors, and mentors for their consistent support and assistance throughout this process. I've been lucky to call this university home for the past four years and I'm excited to make WIU proud of my future endeavors!"

A May 2016 graduate, Kouchis is one of four finalist from the Summit League and 516 nationally for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. Kouchis graduated Magna Cum Laude with a cumulative 3.90 GPA and double-major in Communication and Journalism.

"We are so proud of Karissa, she is very deserving of this prestigious award," said softball head coach Holly Van Vlymen. "Over the past four years she has worked hard on the field, in the classroom and in the WIU and Macomb communities to help enrich the lives of those around her."

During her undergraduate collegiate career, Kouchis earned numerous accolades both on the softball diamond, in the classroom, and within the University community.

Prior to graduating, she was named a COFAC Scholar, Communication Department Scholar, Journalism Scholar and Thompson Scholar. She was a Rhodes Scholar nominee, and Lincoln Laureate nominee for the Department of Communication. Kouchis was also recently named the 2015-16 Western Illinois Athletic Department's Female Senior Student-Athlete of the Year.

In 2014, she represented Western Illinois in the NCAA Career in Sports Forum, then last fall was the featured female speaker at the annual Purple and Gold Auction. She participated in the WIU President's Round Table, one of 18 WIU students on the advisory board to WIU's President.

On the softball diamond this past season, Kouchis was tabbed to the Second Team All-Summit League for the third time in her career after leading the team with a .327 batting average. One of the team captains, she started all 48 games and led the team in runs scored (23), hits (54), stolen bases (8), and on base percentage (.371) and had 15 multi-hit games.

She started 170 times (in 172 games played) throughout her four-year career, finishing with a .298 batting average all-time. In her career, she scored 75 runs, hit 15 doubles, six triples and three home runs while driving in 48 runs. Kouchis stole 16 bases, recorded 25 outfield assists and never once hit into a double play.

Outside of the competition field, Kouchis served as the President of the WIU Student Athlete Advisory Committee, President of the Society of Professional Journalists, Director of Dancer Relations for the WIU Dance Marathon, Co-Community Service Coordinator at WIU, worked with the Western Courier student newspaper, and wrote her own blog covering her summer trip to China.

She was a member of: WIU Dance Marathon, SAAC (President), WIU-TV3 news crew, Society of Professional Journalists (President), Leatherneck Companion Program, PRSSA, Discover Western, and First Year Experience Peer Mentor.

"Anyone that knows Karissa is not likely surprised at this latest recognition. During her four years on campus, she was not only a student-athlete leader, but also among the entire student body. She's more than deserving of the award, and we look forward to her contributions as a graduate assistant in the department," said athletic director Matt Tanney. "The fact that she joins Victoria as our second NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient within the same year simply highlights the upstanding character and achievements of both women."

Kouchis recently began her graduate assistantship with Leatherneck Athletics in the marketing and promotions department and will pursue a master's degree in Communication.

Posted By: WIU Athletics (SID@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing