Rock Hill, S.C.----Wingate University graduate student Leah Knowles has hauled in the biggest honor of her incredible career, being named the 2023-24 South Atlantic Conference President's Award winner, league officials announced Tuesday morning. The President's Award is the league's highest individual honor, going to the top overall student-athlete in the entire 13-school conference.

"What an amazing honor to end Leah's career, the most prestigious award for the SAC," head coach Abby Wiley says. "I couldn't think of a better student-athlete to win this award. Her dedication to academics, her career path, and athletics is incredible. I am extremely proud to say I have had the opportunity to coach her the last five years, it has been an absolute pleasure."

Presented annually by the South Atlantic Conference, the President's Award is voted on by the league's Faculty Athletic Representatives. To be eligible, student-athletes must exemplify excellence in athletics, academics and community service. Further, to be nominated for this prestigious award, the individual must have been honored as the Scholar-Athlete of the Year during the year in one of the league's 23 sponsored sports.

"We are all excited for Leah and so proud of her," Wingate director of athletics Joe Reich says. "This is well deserved. She is a fantastic person, student and athlete."

Knowles is the 16th Bulldog to earn this prestigious honor, giving Wingate the most winners in league history. She is the first women's lacrosse player in league history to earn the award. Knowles is the first Bulldog to be named the SAC President's Award winner since volleyball All-American Anna Holmquist took home the hardware in 2019.

Knowles is no stranger to winning major awards. A four-time first team All-SAC honoree, she was named the SAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023, while earning SAC Midfielder of the Year honors in 2024. Knowles became the first All-American in program history in 2022, earning second team honors from the IWLCA and third team accolades from USA Lacrosse. Knowles earned second team All-American honors from both publications in 2023, and again this season. She was also named to the IWLCA Senior All-Star game.

Knowles earned her undergraduate degree in three and a half years, majoring in elementary education while accumulating a 3.736 GPA. She earned her Masters of Arts in Sport Management in December of 2023 and is currently working on her second master's degree in public health, with a 4.00 GPA through her first semester.

Knowles wrapped up her incredible career by pouring in a team-best 59 goals in 2024, adding 13 assists while also leading the team with 39 caused turnovers and 89 draw controls, ranking third on the team with 38 ground balls. Knowles helped lead the Bulldogs to their first-ever NCAA Tournament bid in 2022, then led the 'Dogs to their first-ever SAC regular season and tournament titles in 2023. Knowles helped lead Wingate to a second consecutive regular season title in 2024. The Bulldogs were ranked inside the top 20 in every IWLCA poll throughout the year.

Knowles has left her mark all over the Wingate history books. She is the school record holder in four categories, with 229 goals, 309 points, 391 draw controls and 164 caused turnovers. Knowles started all 78 games she appeared in during her Bulldog career, while also collecting 153 ground balls and 80 assists. Knowles is the league's all-time leader in draw controls, ranking in the top three in SAC history in goals, points and caused turnovers.

Knowles has also collected honors for her work in the classroom, spending four semesters on the Wingate Dean's List and two semesters on the President's List. A SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll student every year of her career, Knowles won the Student Art Award in the spring of 2022 and presented an Aboriginal-based artwork piece at the Wellspring Symposium in 2022. She became the first player in program history to earn CSC Academic All-America honors in 2023, while also graduating magna cum laude.

Knowles has also done plenty of work in the community, serving as a student teacher at Marshville Elementary School, working with kindergarten students for a semester. She also served as a UCPS substitute teacher in December of 2022. Knowles has served with the WU Education Department's new Orton-Gillingham Reading Clinic. She served as a tutor for two semesters during her time at Wingate, and was also a club coach for Ultimate Lacrosse CLT for four years. Knowles volunteered with Common Heart Food Pantry and was a Wingate University Move-In volunteer. She also spent five years as a student worker for Wingate's athletic communications department, serving primarily as a photographer. Knowles also worked at the McGee Center at Wingate.

Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 26 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 16 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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