COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The NJCAA Executive Committee recognized Cassie Kuizin on Monday for her excellence in the classroom, on the field and in the community with the 2015-16 Lea Plarski Award.
Receiving an associate’s degree in the arts, Kuizin posted a perfect 4.0 GPA in four semesters at Heartland (Ill.). Her academic accomplishments were recognized by the NJCAA earlier this month with the Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence. She twice tied for the highest GPA on the Hawks’ softball team and served as team captain for the institution’s academic competition. Kuizin even served as the team’s liaison with its faculty mentors. The Springfield, Illinois, native is moving on to Taylor University in Indiana where she plans to earn her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology.
When she wasn’t on the diamond or in the classroom, Kuizin was diligently serving the community of Normal, Illinois. She volunteered her time with several charitable organizations, including Special Opportunities in Recreation (SOAR) which aims to enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities through recreational sports and activities. Kuizin also lent a helping hand to people in need of social services through Providing Access to Help (PATH) and interned with the Children’s Home + Aid Foundation – a nonprofit serving families and children in crisis. Her other work with children included volunteering for mentorship programs at local elementary schools and spending time as a nursery worker to care for kids that needed supervision due to emergency situations.
Despite all of her tremendous efforts off the field, Kuizin still found time to develop her abilities on it. The infielder started for two seasons at Heartland, earning first team all-conference honors from the Mid-West Athletic Conference in both years. As a sophomore, Kuizin was named NJCAA Region 24 Player of the Year and garnered NJCAA Third Team All-America accolades after posting a team-high .403 batting average with 14 home runs, 13 doubles and 42 RBIs. Her efforts fueled the Hawks run to the NJCAA Division II Softball District P title and an appearance at the NJCAA DII Softball Championship.
Kuizin’s abilities as a player on the diamond were only surpassed by her qualities as a leader. Characterized by a silent confidence, dedicated work ethic and admirable humbleness, she was strongly admired by her Heartland teammates who could always rely on her for support and assistance.
Moving on to Taylor in the fall, Kuizin is set to continue her collegiate softball career with the Trojans who participate in the NAIA.
About the Lea Plarski Award
The NJCAA’s Lea Plarski Award is handed out annually in the name of former NJCAA President Lea Plarski as recognition of her tremendous service to the NJCAA and two-year college athletics. The former director of athletics at St. Louis Community College/Florissant Valley, Plarski helped to establish the Women’s Division of the NJCAA in 1975. She served as Vice-President for Women from 1975-1990 when she made NJCAA history as the first female ever elected to the office of President, a position she held from 1990-1996. In honor of her numerous accomplishments, as well as her undeniable dedication to the student-athlete, the NJCAA Lea Plarski Award was created. Since 1995, the award has been presented to an NJCAA student-athlete who exemplifies sportsmanship, leadership, community service, academic excellence, athletic ability and achievements – qualities that were the cornerstones of the Plarski “era”.