Fayette, Mo. - Central Methodist junior volleyball player Krystal Brauner has been selected to receive the $1,000 Larry Lady Academic Scholarship from the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
Lady, the long-time serving commissioner for the conference, has provided a $1,000 academic scholarship for the top male and female institutions in the conference based on the school whose respective programs had the highest cumulative grade point average. CMU's women's programs had the highest cumulative GPA in the Heart for 2021-22.
"It is truly an honor to be the recipient of this scholarship," said Brauner. "There are many hard-working female athletes here at Central Methodist University, and I am proud that I was selected to represent them. I want to thank Larry Lady for acknowledging the hard work of student-athletes in our conference."
Krystal has been a member of the Central Volleyball program for four seasons, having led the Eagles to a conference tournament championship her freshman season, and four-straight trips to the NAIA National Tournament. She is a four Heart First-Team All-Conference selection and was named the Conference Freshman of the year in 2019.
Brauner holds the CMU career record with 2,191 digs and will look to add on as she competes in her final season in 2023.
In the classroom, Brauner is a double major in both Psychology and Child Development with a minor in business while maintaining a 4.0 grade point average. After graduation, she plans to work for the state in the social work field, specifically in the child protective services department. After gaining work experience, Brauner will further her education by pursuing a master's degree in either social work or counseling.
Lady served as the commissioner of the Heart for 21 years before retiring in June 2014. In addition to serving as the Heart commissioner, he served the NAIA national offices on several levels. He was inducted into the NAIA's Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Kansas Collegiate Officials Hall of Fame in The Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2008
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