MILWAUKEE, Wis. (naccsports.org) --- The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) has announced its initial recipients of the NACC FAR Award.
The award was developed by the NACC's Faculty Athletics Representatives (FARs) in order to recognize outstanding achievements and commitment in three essential areas - academic performance, contribution to athletics, and service to the campus community. Additionally, it recognizes the perseverance and determination demonstrated in the pursuit of success in those endeavors.
The honor builds upon the existing NACC academic awards program, which includes the NACC Scholar-Athlete Awards and the G. Steven Larson Student-Athletes of the Year. The latter award is selected by the NACC's senior woman administrators, while the former is determined by grade-point average alone.
Each NACC institution is allowed to nominate two individuals per semester. Those nominees are then taken under consideration by a subcommittee of the conference's FARs, which determines the winners.
A total of 10 individuals will be recognized each academic year with five honorees representing fall sports being announced during the spring, with a further five honorees representing winter and spring sports slated to be announced upon the completion of the academic year.
The five recipients for the Fall 2024 semester are:
- Abigail Hoffmann, Edgewood College, women's volleyball
- Olivia Heling, Lakeland University, women's tennis
- Robert Michael, Lakeland University, football
- Lukas Schwenke, Milwaukee School of Engineering, men's soccer
- Margaret Thillman, Milwaukee School of Engineering, women's soccer
Abigail Hoffmann
Institution: Edgewood College
Sport: Women's Volleyball
Hometown: Hartford, Wis.
Majors: Political Science (Pre-Law), Sociology
Over the last two seasons, Hoffmann helped lead the Eagles to a pair of conference titles, two NACC Tournament titles, and two NCAA Championship appearances. During her career, she eclipsed 1,000 kills, 1,000 assists, and 200 blocks en route to NACC Player of the Year honors in 2024 and two NACC Tournament MVP awards (2023, 2024). Hoffmann was also an All-NACC first-teamer and an AVCA All-Region honorable mention selection in each of her final three seasons (2022, 2023, 2024). She was also a team captain.
Off the court, Hoffmann spent time coaching at youth volleyball camps and volunteering at the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry in addition to participating in fundraising events for her church in her hometown of Hartford, Wisconsin.
As a result of her work in the classroom, Hoffmann - a political science pre-law and sociology double major - is a four-time NACC Scholar-Athlete, a three-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree, and has regularly appeared on both the Semester Honors list and Dean's List at Edgewood College.
Olivia Heling
Institution: Lakeland University
Sport: Women's Tennis
Hometown: West Bend, Wis.
Major: Biology (minor: psychology; concentration: health science)
Heling, a junior majoring in biology with a minor in psychology and a health science concentration, has competed at the No. 1 spot in both singles and doubles since her freshman season, compiling 27 victories en route to NACC Freshman of the Year honors in 2022 and All-NACC honors in singles in 2023.
Heling has served her community by volunteering time preparing crafts and activities for children's programs at her local library. Additionally, she has recently started working in a local retirement home, allowing her to care for a vulnerable population that has historically been overlooked.
Heling has volunteered her time as a youth tennis coach, eventually working as an assistant coach for a summer program where she provided one-on-one coaching and made meaningful and impactful connections with many who otherwise may not have had access to a tennis club.
Robert (Robby) Michael
Institution: Lakeland University
Sport: Football
Hometown: Sheboygan, Wis.
Major: Sport Management and Leadership (Concentration: Athletic Coaching)
A versatile dual-threat quarterback for the Lakeland football program, Michael ranks in the top 10 in program history in six major categories, including third in career total offense, fourth in rushing yards, and seventh in passing yards. Last fall, he ranked in the top 25 in NCAA Division III in three statistical categories, including fifth nationally in total offense. Michael also became the eighth Muskie - and first quarterback - to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. These efforts earned Michael First Team All-NACC honors, building off a NACC Freshman of the Year honor in 2022 and back-to-back All-NACC honorable mention honors in 2022 and 2023.
Michael's efforts in the classroom have twice earned him NACC Scholar-Athlete recognition as well as CSC Academic All-District honors this past fall.
Michael has been recognized as a leader on campus, signified by his selection as a Blue and Gold Champion responsible for helping incoming freshmen navigate their transition to college life. He has also served as an Honor Marshal during Lakeland's commencement ceremonies and has worked to promote and support campus athletics as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Michael has also been lauded by instructors and administrators for his ability to build relationships, create inclusive environments, and encourage greater engagement on campus.
Lukas Schwenke
Institution: Milwaukee School of Engineering
Sport: Men's Soccer
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wis.
Major: Civil Engineering
Schwenke, a senior midfielder, has been a member of two NACC title-winning squads (2022, 2023) as well as last year's NACC Tournament champion team that advanced to the NCAA Championship for the first time in a decade. He registered five of his 19 career goals last season while playing in all 20 contests for the Raiders. Schwenke has twice been named the All-NACC Men's Soccer Team, earning first team honors from the league's coaches in 2023 and second team honors last fall. He was also recognized by the MSOE staff as the program's Most Improved Player as a freshman in 2021.
Academically, Schwenke has been named to the CSC Academic All-District squad and has three times been a NACC Scholar-Athlete. He also has been named to the MSOE Dean's List on nine occasions - seven times with high honors.
Schwenke has actively contributed to community initiatives such as planting trees for environmental restoration and supporting Habitat for Humanity by volunteering in the organization's thrift store. He has also helped his campus community by mentoring underclassmen, helping them navigate the challenges of transitioning to college. Schwenke also promoted health and wellness on campus through work at MSOE's recreational facility.
Margaret (Maggie) Thillman
Institution: Milwaukee School of Engineering
Sport: Women's Soccer
Hometown: Green Bay, Wis.
Major: Architectural Engineering
Thillman, a junior midfielder, has been a stalwart for a MSOE women's soccer program that has recorded three consecutive top-2 finishes in the NACC regular-season standings in her time with the program. The Raiders also captured the 2023 NACC Tournament title and advanced to the second round of that year's NCAA Championships. Individually, Thillman has twice been named all-region (2023 first team, 2024 third team) by United Soccer Coaches and earned back-to-back first-team all-league honors. Additionally, she has twice been named to the NACC Women's Soccer All-Tournament Team, securing Tournament MVP honors in 2023.
Academically, Thillman has been named to the MSOE Dean's List every term since Fall 2022, is a two-time NACC Scholar-Athlete, and, last fall, received Academic All-District honors from College Sports Communicators and Scholar All-Region Third Team honors from United Soccer Coaches.
While at MSOE, Thillman has devoted time to tutoring underclassmen enrolled in introductory courses to chemistry, physics, and calculus, while also serving on a student board of directors, and being a team leader with the MSOE women's soccer program. As one of the initiates of the
Raider
Athletes believing in
Inclusion
Diversity and
Equity and thrives to be
Responsible
Stewards of our Community (R.A.I.D.E.R.S.) group, Thillman focuses on promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through MSOE athletics. She has helped organize events such as MSOE's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. basketball games and was one of the lead organizers of the campus' National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration.