June 12, 2007
NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State three-year starting middle blocker Kari Staehlin added to her already impressive list of accolades by being named the 2007 recipient of the Dr. Linda Herman Endowed Scholarship Tuesday.
The scholarship, to be awarded annually to a Redbird volleyball student-athlete, was created in honor of former volleyball coach and interim athletics director Dr. Linda Herman in September 2005. Rose Stadel, the widow of Joe Warner, handed over the proceeds from the 2005 Joe Warner Memorial Golf Classic to initiate funds for the endowment. The late Warner spent three decades as a prominent business and community leader in central Illinois before his tragic death in a 2002 plane crash. He was an avid Redbird fan and supporter.
Staehlin, a senior, has established herself as one of the most prolific offensive players in Illinois State history over the past three seasons. She ranks fifth all-time in career hitting percentage (.295), and her 3.93 career points per game ranks second in the all-time ISU annals. Staehlin's 4.40 points per game in 2005 and 4.37 points per outing last season are the top two single-season marks in program history. Staehlin has also accumulated 1.04 blocks per game over the past three years, ranking ninth overall in that category.
Herman was one of Illinois State's most influential administrators. She was named the 1995 National Associate of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators (NACWAA) District V Administrator of the Year, and was also the recipient of the Bloomington/Normal YWCA Women of Distinction Award for outstanding leadership and excellence in education in 1997.
Herman spent seven years as the head Redbird volleyball coach, and served four separate stints as ISU's interim athletics director. She was inducted into the Illinois State Athletics Hall of Fame in September 2005, and in December 2003, was inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches Association's (AVCA) inaugural Hall of Fame class.
Head volleyball coach Sharon Dingman values Herman's long-time support of Redbird volleyball and Illinois State women's athletics in general.
"There is no greater association between a person and an athletics team as Dr. Linda Herman and Redbird Volleyball," said Dingman. "Her impact began as a coach and continued as an administrator. Honoring her commitment to Redbird athletics and specifically volleyball by naming Kari Staehlin the recipient is very exciting. Dr. Herman's legacy will grow as our program's success continues. To have her name associated with our program's history is an honor."
Staehlin was honored to be associated with such an award.
"I am truly honored and proud to receive this honor," said Staehlin. "Dr. Linda Herman is an amazing woman, and to be associated with her name is pretty special. Her leadership qualities, desire and commitment to Illinois State athletics is something I admire, and I truly look up to her.
"I have made a strong effort to invest my life into academics and athletics, which can be difficult to balance at times. I know that Dr. Herman also follows these ideals, and she would tell you about that challenge. That's what also makes this honor so gratifying."
Dingman saw Staehlin as a perfect fit for Herman's endowment.
"Kari has matured into a leader in our program and on campus," Dingman said. "She is a superb role model for our younger student-athletes just as Dr. Herman is for our entire athletics department. Many of the characteristics that Dr. Herman exhibited daily, we see in Kari -a positive attitude, great work ethic, and above all, she is a team player."
The Linda Herman Endowment is one of ISU's partially funded scholarships. For information about supporting this, or other Illinois State University endowments for student-athletes, call The Redbird Club office at (309) 438-3803.
