NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State senior women's tennis standout Veronika Golanova, football senior quarterback Jake Kolbe and junior distance runner Kennidi Knoblock were among several students honored over the weekend at the Illinois State School of Kinesiology and Recreation (KNR) Esther Larson McGinnis Academic Achievement and Service Awards ceremony.
Golanova, an exercise science major, was honored with the Darlene A. Kluka Scholarship award. In order to receive this award, the student must be a female that demonstrates strong academic achievement, obtain a minimum 3.0 GPA and intend to enter the field of coaching. The Czech Republic native plays primarily at the No. 1 singles and doubles spot for the Redbirds and has been awarded doubles team of the week honors twice this season by the MVC.
Kolbe, a physical education major, was awarded with the Howard Hancock Athletic Achievement Award. The criteria for the award are a male senior student-athlete majoring in KNR who also has distinguished athletic achievement. The Naperville, Illinois native was named to the MVFC Honor Roll last fall and appeared in 10 games for the Redbirds in the 2018 season. This is the second year in a row that Kolbe has received an award from KNR.
Knoblock, a physical education major, was the recipient of the Clifford E. Horton Scholarship Award, which is awarded to a junior student-athlete in good academic standing who demonstrates leadership qualities, while promoting the professional aspects of KNR. Knoblock is a Wausau, Wisconsin native and is a member of the Illinois State cross country and track and field team. Knoblock ran a leg on the Redbirds' distance medley relay team that finished third and earned all-conference honors. She was also a member of the indoor track team that helped the Redbirds to their first indoor sweep of the MVC Championship since 1997.
For more information about the KNR awards, please visit kinrec.illinoisstate.edu.
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