NORMAL, Ill. – A pair of Redbird volleyball student-athletes were named recipients of endowed scholarships for the upcoming school year, as rising seniors Kaylee Martin and Sydney Holt were selected to receive the Linda Herman Endowed Scholarship and the Robert & Laura Garrett Endowed Scholarship, respectively.
"Kaylee (Martin) and Sydney (Holt) are extremely deserving of the endowed scholarships," head volleyball coach Leah Johnson shared. "Both student-athletes lead our program on and off the court in their unique and personal ways. Every day, they are daring to lead our program through the team's core values of service, growth and tradition."
Linda Herman Endowed Scholarship Recipient // Kaylee Martin // Rising Senior // Outside Hitter // Sterling, Illinois
Martin, a two-time First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection, finished her junior campaign leading the team with 526 kills – the most by a Redbird since 1996. For the second-straight year, Martin landed a spot on the MVC All-Tournament Team at the championship, as she helped ISU earn the Valley crown and a repeat trip to the NCAA Tournament. She turned in seven 20-plus kill performances and posted a trio of double-doubles, including an 11 kill-15 dig outing at No. 4 Wisconsin. Martin is currently pursuing a degree in human development and family science and maintains a 3.22 cumulative grade-point average (GPA).
"Kaylee has continued to enhance the Redbird Volleyball tradition with her stellar play on the court and her generous service to her teammates off the court," Johnson added. "She has demonstrated immense growth throughout her career, and we are excited for her to take the court this year in her final season."
The scholarship, which is 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.
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. Herman is also a member of the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame, as she was given the Lifetime Achievement distinction in 2014.
Robert & Laura Garrett Endowed Scholarship Recipient // Sydney Holt // Rising Senior // Middle Blocker // Wildwood, Missouri
Similarly to Martin, Holt appeared in all 34 matches and 132 sets for the Redbirds in 2019, moving into a starting role in the middle for Illinois State. A first team all-conference pick and member of the MVC Scholar-Athlete First Team, she finished first on the team in hitting percentage (.303) and third in the league. Holt made her presence known at the net, setting the junior by-class record with 144 block assists, ranking second all-time in a single season in the category. As an exercise science major, Holt carries an impressive 3.89 GPA in the classroom.
"Sydney demonstrates a standard of excellence in her effort and attitude towards academics, athletics and self-growth," expressed Johnson. "She rallies her teammates to pursue academic and athletic achievement every day."
The Garrett scholarship was established in 2008 by Robert and Laura Garrett. The scholarship is for women's basketball and volleyball, long-time loves of both Bob and Laura. The scholarship will be awarded annually to a member of the women's basketball team or a member of the women's volleyball team.
These endowed scholarships are two of 31 available to Illinois State student-athletes that are funded by private donors. For more information about establishing or contributing an endowed scholarship, please call the Weisbecker Scholarship Fund office at (309) 438-3803. To read about each current endowment in more detail, visit the WSF website at www.weisbeckerscholarshipfund.com.
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