Hope College swimmer Sara Kraus '25 has been named the 2024-25 Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Scholar Athlete of the Year in a Women's Sport by the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

The prestigious award recognizes graduating seniors who have excelled academically and athletically while demonstrating outstanding leadership in their campus and wider communities. The award honors Sheila Wallace Kovalchik, who served as MIAA Commissioner from 1991 to 2002 and was a driving force in elevating women's athletics across the conference.

Kraus becomes the sixth Hope College student-athlete to earn this recognition, joining previous Hope honorees Kenedy Schoonveld (2020-21, 2021-22), Erin Herrmann (2016-17), Jenna Grasmeyer (2014-15) and Nora Kuiper (2008-09).

"I am incredibly humbled and honored to receive this award," Kraus stated. "I want to thank the MIAA not only for selecting me for this prestigious award, but for giving me the opportunity to compete, train and learn at a high level for the last four years. I also want to thank my coaches, teammates, friends, and family for supporting me on this amazing journey of being a student athlete. My Hope academic and athletic experience has been a huge blessing, and I am privileged to carry on the legacy that this award signifies."
 

Competitive Excellence

A standout both in and out of the pool, Kraus graduated in May with a 3.66 GPA, double-majoring in Business Management and Psychology with a minor in Exercise Science. She was a three-time MIAA Most Valuable Swimmer, seven-time NCAA All-American, and four-time First Team All-MIAA honoree. She departs Hope holding six school records and five MIAA records, cementing her status as one of the most decorated swimmers in program history.

Her academic accolades are equally impressive, earning spots on the MIAA Honor Roll all four years, being named a Scholar All-American by The College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association (CSCAA), and earning College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District recognition in 2024.

Her leadership shone just as brightly. She was elected team captain as a sophomore and held that role through her senior year. Kraus also served as the swim team's recruiting coordinator, planning visits, managing communications, and helping shape the future of the program.

"We couldn't be happier for Sara," Hope head coach Jake Taber said. "She has been such an instrumental part of the program here at Hope over the last four years. We are proud of the way she's represented herself both in the water and in the classroom during her tenure at Hope."
 

Academic Success

Beyond the swim team, Kraus made a significant impact across campus and in the community. From 2022 to 2025, she served as a representative for Students Teaching and Empowering Peers, where she was trained in sexual assault and violence prevention and became a liaison for her team. She also worked as a Hope Athletics aid during the 2022-23 academic year, assisting coaching and kinesiology staff and facilitating recruit visits across all sports.

Her academic and professional curiosity led to a variety of experiences. In 2023, Kraus studied abroad in France through the Institute for the International Education of Students, where she immersed herself in French culture and led a tour of a historic landmark. She also presented published research at both the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference and Hope's Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, exploring topics such as attachment to home and personality types.

In 2024, Kraus served as a Center for Leadership Consultant, advising Gentex on business decisions related to their skills-tracking systems. Her work involved in-depth research, meetings with subject matter experts, and formal presentations. She was also selected for the Michigan Colleges Alliance-Cooperative Learning Collective, where she collaborated with young professionals across West Michigan to develop cross-disciplinary skills and build industry connections.

That same year, she worked as a strategic procurement intern at Gordon Food Service. Her project uncovered over $160,000 in cost savings, and she won the company-wide intern case competition for her innovative approach.

Kraus's achievements were also recognized through multiple campus honors. She was named the 2022 Hope College Newcomer of the Year and the 2025 recipient of the John Schouten Senior Athlete Award, presented annually to Hope's top senior female athlete.
 

Transformational Experiences

"We are thrilled to celebrate Sara as the recipient of the Kovalchik Award," commented Tim Schoonveld, Director of Athletics at Hope. "This honor reflects her outstanding commitment to the core pillars of Hope College Athletics: academic success, competitive excellence, and transformational experiences. Sara truly embodies what it means to be a student-athlete and represents Hope College with excellence both in and out of the pool. Her dedication to the values and ideals of Sheila Wallace Kovalchik and the MIAA is something we are deeply proud of. We are excited to see all that God has in store for Sara in the years ahead and know that she will continue to inspire others through their character, leadership, and pursuit of excellence."

With an unmatched combination of academic drive, athletic excellence, and meaningful leadership, Kraus leaves behind a legacy worthy of the Sheila Wallace Kovalchik Scholar Athlete of the Year award.

MIAA Commissioner Jason Horn remarked, "Sara is a great example of what Division III and the MIAA are all about. She has excelled in the classroom, in the pool, and has made a real difference on campus and in the community. We had an incredibly strong group of finalists from across all of our institutions, which made the selection committee's decision a tough one. That makes Sara's recognition all the more special, and we're proud to honor her with the Kovalchik Award and to also submit her as our NCAA Woman of the Year nominee."

Also nominated for this award were: Adrian College's Mya Minjares (volleyball), Albion College's Hannah Fathman (swimming), Alma College's Megan Neeley (swimming), Calvin University's Sydney Sonday (swimming), Kalamazoo College's Paige Anderson (cross country), The University of Olivet's London Eldridge (track), Saint Mary's College's Alayna Campbell (tennis), and Trine University's Alexis Michon (softball).