Purdue Calumet’s Alison Kimble Earns NAIA Scholar-Athlete Honors

PUC-Purdue-Calumets-Alison-Kimble-Earns-NAIA-Scholar-Athlete-HonorsPurdue University Calumet senior Alison Kimble was one of 402 softball players of the NAIA to be named a 2014-15 Daktronics Scholar-Athlete, as released by the national office Wednesday.

Kimble (Greenup, Ill./Cumberland) who graduated earlier this month with a degree in finance, earned her first honor after meeting the criteria for the award, which includes a minimum 3.5 grade point average, at least a junior standing academically, and a minimum of one calendar year at an institution.

A two-year starter for the second-year Peregrine softball program, Kimble left her mark as the squad’s all-time leader in wins (31), strikeouts (230), and earned run average (3.35). In her senior season, Kimble led the Peregrines with 16-11 record in the circle with a career-best 136 strikeout and set the new record for strikeouts in a game with 13 against then-nationally ranked Taylor.

She pitched three masterful games in the Peregrines’ first-ever berth into the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament, leading the squad to a 5-0 shutout over eventual NAIA national qualifier Judson before delivering a shutout win over Calumet College of St. Joseph in the elimination round. She earned her All-Tournament Team honors for her efforts.

Also a standout in the classroom, Kimble earned a 3.66 cumulative grade point average over the course of her academic career, which aided her acceptance into the Michigan State University Law School, where she plans to attend in the fall.

Kimble joins two other Peregrine spring student-athletes to earn the Scholar-Athlete honor, joining golfer Mat Bowen and women’s tennis player Lori Haas. So far this season, the Peregrines have nine NAIA Scholar-Athlete honorees.

The NAIA is the governing body for athletics programs at its nearly 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada. The long-held mission of the NAIA is to promote the education and development of well-rounded students and productive citizens through intercollegiate athletics. The association offers equitable access and opportunities for participation in its 23 national championship events held annually throughout the country.