Madison, Wis. - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse senior defender Kaley Hendrick of Holland, Mich. (West Ottawa) has been named the recipient of the 2025 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Lacrosse Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award, the league office announced Thursday.
 
Majoring in communications with a minor in digital media & design, Hendrick maintains a 3.73 cumulative grade point average. She is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and been recognized on UW-La Crosse's Dean's List numerous times. In 2024, Hendrick received her institution's Aerie Award, as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's Executive Team.
 
Hendrick is the first student-athlete in school history to earn the WIAC Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete Award after the league added the sport in 2024.
 
A team captain the last two years, Hendrick secured All-WIAC Second Team honors this season after earning first team recognition in 2024. Starting all 17 games this season, Hendrick scored goals versus Augsburg University (Minn.) on April 16 and Hamline University (Minn.) on April 26. She had a season-high five ground balls against Aurora University (Ill.) on March 15 and a season-best three caused turnovers versus Carthage College (Wis.) on March 1.
 
Hendrick helped UW-La Crosse's defense allow 9.94 goals per game while recording its first shutout in school history with a 24-0 victory at Augsburg (Minn.) on April 16. The Eagles held five different opponents to five or fewer goals.
 
She is a member of UW-La Crosse's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Eagle Advocates. Hendrick serves as the team's social media coordinator and was in the same role for the 2024 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship.
 
Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were:  College of Saint Benedict's Emma Osland (Sr., Cottage Grove, Minn./Park); UW-River Falls' Kayden Hersback (Sr., Lannon, Wis./Hamilton); UW-Stevens Point's Courtney Leising (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove); and UW-Stout's Mai Nou Vang (Sr., Green Bay, Wis./Preble).
 
The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman who served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98. Prior to this appointment, she was Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) from October, 1984 - September, 1996. Kruckman was the women's athletics director at UW-Eau Claire from 1974-84, and one of the original representatives to the WWIAC when it formed in 1971. She was inducted into the WIAC Hall of Fame in 2012.

In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average. In addition, she must be in her last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years. The award is based on academic achievements, athletics accomplishments and involvement in other campus activities, organizations and community service projects.