TEMPE, Ariz. - SVSU junior women's tennis student-athlete Danielle Slonac has been selected as the ITA / Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award winner for the Midwest Region.
Slonac, who will enter the fall 2017 season as a senior, is in the honors program at Saginaw Valley State University and is on track to graduate in four years with a double major in business and finance. She carries a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA through her first three years for the Cardinals.
Danielle has participated in the Cardinal Business Edge Program as well as being selected for the Vitito Global Leadership Institute. She is a three year SAAC representative and has volunteered many hours benefiting Make-A-Wish, Breast Cancer awareness, Community Youth Day clinics, and teaching tennis at a local elementary school just to name a few. She serves on the SVSU Dean's Student Advisory Council and has received numerous awards as a member for the National Society of Leadership. Danielle is also an active member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the SVSU Finance Club and Athletes in Action.
SVSU head coach Jenn Boehm on Slonac's award...
"It is truly a privilege to know and coach Danielle and she is most deserving of this recognition. She is a top-notch student carrying a 4.0 GPA all three years and has an impressive resume of academic and extra-curricular accomplishments.
She's the player who spends every van trip in the front seat studying and getting ahead on her homework. In addition, her tennis skills and results have skyrocketed in the last two years as she has gone from not playing singles on an 8th place team to being 9-2 in both singles and doubles during the regular season at 4th singles and 2 doubles on a 4th place team.
While she tends to be quiet and reserved off-court, when she steps on the court she transforms into a fiery competitor. She has battle through injuries this season and lays it all on the line every match. Most importantly though, she always plays with the utmost integrity and respect for the game, her opposing team/coach, officials and fans. She is the type of person who will always acknowledge her opponents efforts and winning shots, not just sometimes...but every time.
She is also a tremendous teammate and is someone that everyone on our team leans on for support on and off the court. While she has excelled academically and athletically, she remains incredibly humble and grateful for the opportunity she has earned here at SVSU. Her impact on this team is immeasurable as she continues to raise the bar of what it means to be a successful student-athlete."
The ITA/Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award recognizes outstanding individuals in all divisions at the regional and national level. This award which dates back to 1982, goes to NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA and JUCO men's and women's players who have exhibited outstandingsportsmanship and leadership as well as scholastic, extracurricular and tennis achievements.
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