Val DeWeerd named 2012 Bill Boyden Award winner
The Bill Boyden Award is handed out each year to a senior student–athlete who is in good academic standing and shows leadership on campus.
The 32nd annual award was given to volleyball outside hitter Val DeWeerd, who has volunteered her time off the court to help around the Mount Pleasant community and around the nation.
"It's such an honor (because) Mr. Boyden was so involved in the community," DeWeerd said. "Just to represent what he did in the community is such a huge honor."
Among DeWeerd's off court activities are serving as the secretary for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes RSO and as a first grade Sunday School teacher at Mount Pleasant Community Church.
She has also traveled on mission trips to Atlanta, Ga., Rock Hill S.C. and Lakeland Fla. She was also awarded the Community Service Award from the Purdue Mortar Board during its volleyball tournament in 2009.
“We are very proud of Val for winning this distinguished award,” head coach Erik Olson said to CMU Athletics. “All the leadership she provides us really displays that she is a tremendous all-around person.”
Olson said DeWeerd was the first name that came up when it came time to nominate someone from the volleyball program.
“We felt Val encompassed the whole body of being a great citizen and community leader, outside of what we do as a team,” he said.
In the classroom, DeWeerd has a 3.64 GPA while double majoring in human resources management and psychology. She is currently a member of the Psi Chi National Honors Society in Psychology.
On the court, the senior helped lead Central Michigan to its first Mid–American Conference Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament berth.
Last year’s Bill Boyden Award winner was Paulina Lee from the field hockey team. Other award winners include Brian Brunner (2008, football) and Dan Majerle (1987, basketball).
