Gatson Chosen as SLIAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year

Gatson Chosen as SLIAC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year

Westminster's senior Kasey Gatson was chosen as the 2016 St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) Female Scholar Athlete of the Year and will be awarded the post-graduate scholarship.

"Kasey has demonstrated all that is great with Division III athletics – excellence and dedication in the classroom, on the basketball court and within the community," stated SLIAC commissioner Angie Morenz. "She is a true ambassador for the Division, Westminster College and the Conference."

"Kasey is a perfect example of what a NCAA Division III student-athlete is about," Westminster Head Women's Basketball Coach Tracey Braden said. "She strives for excellence in both the classroom and on the basketball court.  I am extremely proud of her for what she has brought to our women's basketball program in the past four years!  She has represented Westminster College extremely well as a dedicated, determined and committed student-athlete!

The award will officially be given at the fifth annual SLIAC Awards Banquet on Tuesday, May 17 at the Tapawingo National Golf Club in Sunset Hills, Mo.

"I feel honored to receive this award and for another opportunity to represent Westminster College and the women's basketball program," said Gatson about receiving the award. "Coach Braden is a fantastic coach and mentor who works to develop leadership and character in her players, and my experiences on the Westminster women's basketball team have shaped me into the leader I am now." 

Gatson, a senior guard for the Westminster women's basketball team, currently holds a 3.98 cumulative GPA as a secondary business education major. She plans to graduate this May and is looking to pursue post-graduate studies or into a teaching position. 

Gatson was named to the 2015-16 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District First Team and is a three-time SLIAC Academic All-Conference recipient. This season, she earned a spot on the SLIAC All-Tournament Team and the All-Defensive Team. 

"First, I give credit to Jesus Christ; He's obviously in charge of everything and I am the person I am because of my relationship with him," Gatson said when asked who she'd like to thank. "Secondly, I want to give a shout out to my parents, Coach Braden, Coach Coop and all my teammates. My teammates are a second family and they made the journey memorable and fun. It's a lot easier to lead when you're leading a group of committed, hard working women." 

Gatson is the sixth Westminster recipient of this award and the third female recipient. 

The St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Post Graduate Scholarship is presented to two graduating senior student-athletes each year.  Student-athletes are nominated by their institution's Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR), must have earned two varsity letters in a sport in which the Conference sponsors a Championship and have at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale). Scholarship recipients are selected through a vote of the Conference FARs and receive a scholarship during their first two-years of postgraduate studies.

STORY COURTESY OF WESTMINSTER COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION OFFICE