WICHITA, Kan. – Ellie Facklam was honored on Wednesday (July 23) afternoon by being named the KCAC Female Student-Athlete Champion of Character by the KCAC Champions of Character voting committee.
Facklam has also been selected to be the KCAC's nominee for the NAIA's Dr. Leroy Walker Champions of Character Award. This award was created to honor Dr. LeRoy Walker, a former president of the NAIA and President emeritus of the United States Olympic Committee. It recognizes a student-athlete with at least a junior academic status who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, campus and community leadership embracing the five core character values of the NAIA Champions of Character initiative, athletic achievement and future ambition.
"I'm really honored to be named the KCAC Female Champion of Character and the KCAC's Leroy Walker Award nominee," Facklam said. "This award means a lot because it reflects the purpose behind why I play. I play for the Lord and for those who may never get the chance to. Through softball and places like Camp Barnabas, I've learned that leadership is about serving and loving others well. I'm just so thankful and all the glory goes to The Lord!"
Ellie closed out her career at Evangel with a strong senior year, batting a team high .450 from the plate with 53 RBIs, 25 extra base hits, and just eight strikeouts in 189 at-bats. Facklam also proved to be a strong defensive glove at third base, finishing with just one error in the hot corner on 133 total chances, earning an NFCA Rawlings Gold Glove for her strong defensive play.
"Ellie Facklam is a great choice for the KCAC's Female Student-Athlete Champion of Character, and a deserving nominee for the Leroy Walker Award," Chuck Hepola, Evangel Director of Athletics, remarked. "Excellent in the classroom, excellent on the field and excellent off the field. She has shown great leadership and clearly leads by example. Congrats to Ellie and the KCAC Champions of Character committee for a perfect choice."
Ellie also participated in several community service projects including, but not limiting to, serving on the leadership team at Camp Barnabas, leading team devotionals and bible studies, volunteering with the Best Buddies program, serving as a volunteer coach for the Missouri Chiefs, a 10U softball team, and being involved with Miracle League, a field with opportunities for adults and youth with disabilites to hit, catch, run bases, and play ball.
"When the Leroy Walker Award was introduced, I believe that people like Ellie Facklam are who they had in mind for this award," Jay Halbrook, softball head coach at Evangel, said. "I cannot think of a better nominee for this award than Ellie. Her commitment to service on the field, as well as in the local community shows her exceptional leadership qualities and would make her an outstanding recipient of this honor."
Ellie will advance to final voting for the prestigious Leroy Walker award honor, with the winner being announced on NAIA Awards Day which falls in mid-September.
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