CANTON, Ga. - One of the most accomplished student-athletes in school history, Lauren Huber (Lombard, Ill.-Glenbard East) was recognized with yet another honor Wednesday, Aug. 27, as the former Illinois Wesleyan University two-sport standout was named the Division III Commissioners Association (D3CA) Region VIII Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year. Huber was an All-American in both basketball and track and field. 

Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society, serves as the presenting sponsor of these awards. Voting took place among commissioners within each of the 10 Division III regions. The top male and female honoree in each region will be considered for the two national awards.

"Chi Alpha Sigma is honored to partner with the D3CA in recognizing these incredible student-athletes," said Kellen Wells-Mangold, Executive Director of Chi Alpha Sigma. "Our mission to celebrate excellence in both academics and athletics perfectly aligns with this initiative. These recipients exemplify the highest ideals of collegiate athletics and leadership." Each regional winner now advances to the national ballot for the D3CA Men's Sport Student- Athlete of the Year and D3CA Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year awards, which will be announced next month.

Closing out a storied career on the hardwood, Huber was recognized as a Women's Basketball Coaches Association All-America selection and was named D3hoops.com Third Team All-America. She tied for the team lead with 15.0 points per game alongside a team-leading 7.8 rebounds per contest and finished third on the team with 72 assists and added 37 steals. The Lombard, Ill. native broke the program's career scoring record, a mark that had stood for nearly 30 years, as she finished her career with 1700 points. A First Team All-CCIW selection and nominee for the league's player of the year award, Huber was named a finalist for the Jostens Trophy.

Returning to track for the first time since winning an individual title as a freshman, Huber closed out her collegiate career on a high note. After nabbing All-CCIW honors in the 800m, javelin, and as part of the 4x400 relay, Huber excelled on the national level. She posted a fourth-place finish in the heptathlon at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships with the second-highest total in program history (4918). She set personal-bests in every event of the multi and rankings inside the program's top-10 in five events. She is listed third all-time in high jump (1.67m), fifth in the 800m (2:14.11), eighth in shot put (11.73m), and ninth in javelin (38.88m). Huber was also named All-Midwest Region by the USTFCCA and finished the year ranked 20th nationally in high jump.

Graduating with a degree in biology, Huber was voted a College Sports Communicators First Team Academic All-America in basketball and a Third Team Academic All-America honoree in track and field, as well as reeling in Academic All-District honors from the organization in both sports. A five-time Academic All-CCIW selection, Huber was tabbed Illinois Wesleyan's Jack Swartz Award recipient in back-to-back seasons. Additionally, Huber is a trained and licensed Emergency Medical Technician, and has held the position of General Biology Lab Preparator for Dr. Libby Haywood. She has also served as an athletic training student assistant, where she helped provide treatment to IWU student-athletes.

Huber's impact has reached far beyond her athletic accomplishments, as she has been one of IWU's most involved student-athletes in recent memory. She has organized, led, and participated in many community service activities including: serving as a youth basketball camp counselor, serving on our Student Athlete Advisory Committee, assuming the role of Director of Student-Athlete Development for SAAC, being a member of the Pre Healthy Club Fellowship of Christian Athletes, while also spending her time as a Night to Shine Volunteer, Trick or Treat Canned Food Drive leader, Timber Lake 5K Set Up Volunteer, fundraising for St. Jude's, participating in the Impact Life Blood Drive, and a leader on the Pink Zone Decorating Committee. She has also volunteered with UNICEF, Salvation Army, Sugar Creek, the Tim Tebow Foundation, Home Sweet Home Ministry, Almost Home Kids, UKANDU, and Feed My Starving Children among others.

She has held leadership positions within our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and in other areas on campus. She was the single student representative from our entire campus chosen to speak at the benefactors dinner earlier this year. She is the Director of Student-Athlete Development for our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), where she works to create leadership development and community service opportunities for our entire student-athlete body. She is also an active member of Beta Beta Beta and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, where she has led various initiatives.

Huber is continuing her collegiate athletic career at NCAA Division I University of Notre Dame, where she will compete as part of the track and field team.

Award Selection & Criteria
Graduating seniors were the only student-athletes eligible for nomination. Each conference was permitted to submit up to two nominees for each gendered award, provided at least one was an international student or from an ethnic minority background. Selection was based on four key areas:

About the D3 Commissioners Association (D3CA)
The D3CA was established in 1992 to provide a collaborative network for Division III commissioners to share knowledge, resources, and best practices. Working alongside key organizations such as the NCAA and NACDA, the association is committed to enhancing the student-athlete experience through innovation and collective leadership.

About Chi Alpha Sigma
Founded in 1996, Chi Alpha Sigma is the nation's only honor society dedicated to recognizing four-year college student-athletes for outstanding achievement in both academics and athletics. Today, more than 200 of its 360+ chapters represent NCAA Division III institutions, continuing its mission to honor the ideal balance of scholarly and athletic excellence.