Emily Struckmeyer from Charleston Southern University has been awarded the 2026 Christenberry Award for Academic Excellence by the Big South Conference. This year, a record-breaking 14 student-athletes received the honor for achieving the highest GPA during their college careers. Struckmeyer graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA while excelling as a two-time team captain in women's volleyball, ranking in the top six for attacking percentage and the top 20 for total blocks in her program’s history. Her contributions extended beyond athletics, as she held multiple leadership roles in student organizations. The Christenberry Award recognizes outstanding academic achievement in the conference and has seen at least six honorees for 14 consecutive years.

By the Numbers
  • Struckmeyer finished her college career with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
  • She ranks 6th in attacking percentage (.296) and 19th in total blocks (228) in program history.
State of Play
  • This year marks a record-breaking 14 recipients of the Christenberry Award.
  • The award has been given annually for 14 consecutive years, recognizing outstanding student-athletes.
What's Next

Struckmeyer's achievement highlights the importance of academic excellence in collegiate athletics and may encourage more student-athletes to prioritize academics alongside their sports careers. The increased recognition could lead to further support for student-athletes balancing rigorous academic and athletic commitments.

Bottom Line

Emily Struckmeyer’s dual success in athletics and academics exemplifies the ideal of student-athlete achievement, reinforcing the value of academic excellence in collegiate sports. Her recognition sets a standard for future student-athletes in the Big South Conference.