2021 Girls In The Game Outstanding Female Student-Athlete award winners announced
September 30, 2021
Columbus State University Athletics and the Girls In The Game Committee announce their 2021 Girls In The Game Outstanding Female Student-Athlete Award Winners. Each honoree will receive a scholarship to Columbus State University and a specially designed Girls In The Game medallion.
The 2021 honorees represent the university’s eight women’s NCAA Division II sports:
- Amani Abraham, Track & Field, Sociology major, Dacula, Georgia, Dacula High School
- Amber Abusbeih, Basketball, Kinesiology major, Staten Island, New York, Moore Catholic High School
- Halley Doster, Cheer, Health Science major, Fayetteville, Georgia, Whitewater High School
- Anna Grady, Soccer, Biology major, Flowery Branch, Georgia, Flowery Branch High School
- Sara Ramirez Goncalves, Tennis, Business major, Cancun, Mexico, State College of Florida
- Hannah Hutchens, Cross Country, Kinesiology major, Columbus, Georgia, Columbus High School
- Victoria Libaak, Golf, Master of Business Administration, Argentina, Colegio Del Carmen
- Paige Vincent, Softball, Middle Grades Education major, Douglasville, Georgia, Chapel Hill High School
“The Girls In The Game Committee—as well as CSU’s Athletics Department and the entire university—are again enthusiastically investing in the bright futures of our outstanding female student-athletes,” said Todd Reeser, CSU Director of Athletics. “Our 2021 Girls In The Game scholarship recipients represent the qualities and attributes upon which this important initiative was founded. I congratulate each recipient and thank our donors and sponsors for their generous and loyal support.”
These women were nominated by their teammates and coaches as the individual best-representing leadership, community service and sportsmanship in their respective sport. Scholarships are awarded from a Girls In The Game Scholarship Fund endowed in July 2021.
Columbus State University and the Girls In The Game committee will celebrate these top female student-athletes in the spring during a luncheon and clinic featuring keynote speaker Jennie Finch. The luncheon provides an opportunity for individuals, who are passionate about the advancement of female student-athletes, to gather and further support these athletes’ academic and athletic endeavors. Proceeds from the annual luncheon will be reinvested into growing the Girls In The Game scholarship endowment.
“Columbus State University’s female student-athletes provide exceptional leadership in their athletic programs and across campus. They are also excellent ambassadors for CSU on the fields and courts where they compete,” CSU President Dr. Chris Markwood said. “We are proud to be able to honor them in this way and enrich their academic experience at CSU.”
Launched in 2015, the Girls In The Game mission is to advance and support Columbus State University’s female student-athletes allowing them to reach their full potential academically and athletically, while empowering them to become leaders in life. In 2019, eight female student-athletes were recognized as the first Girls In The Game scholar athletes and received scholarship support from proceeds. Past speakers include tennis legend Tracy Austin, FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion Brandi Chastain, and World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sörenstam. For more information on Girls In The Game please click csucougars.com.
Individuals, businesses and organizations wishing to donate toward the Girls In The Game endowment or sponsor the spring semester luncheon can contact Ashley Schley in CSU’s Office of Advancement at schley_ashley@columbusstate.edu or Madeline Acton in CSU Athletics at acton_madeline@columbusstate.edu.