Mirus joins select company as D3CA award winner

SUWANEE, Ga. – In an announcement made Thursday, Emmie Mirus, a recent Kenyon graduate and member of the College’s championship swimming and diving program, was one of just 20 student-athletes recognized as a regional winner of the inaugural Division III Commissioner’s Association (D3CA) Student-Athlete of the Year awards.

Mirus, announced as the Women’s Sport winner for Region VII, was nominated by the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) office, the same office that named her the 2022 NCAC Pam Smith Woman of the Year Award recipient.

Graduating seniors were the only student-athletes eligible for this award, with additional  selection criteria based on academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership and a personal statement submitted by each nominee.

Voting was conducted by the commissioners within each of the ten regions, with the top male and female honoree recognized as finalists for the Awards Committee to select the D3CA Men’s Sport and Women’s Sport Student-Athlete of the Year. Those decisions will be announced later this month.

Mirus, a five-time NCAA event champion and 22-time All-American, adds this honor to a long list of accolades. Following her role in helping the 2022 women’s swimming and diving team capture its 27th NCAC title and its 24th NCAA Division III title, Mirus was honored with Kenyon’s Shawn Kelly Memorial Award for her inspirational relay contributions; the Stephen E. Bennett Memorial Award for most consistently supporting the team in devotion to training and competition; and the team’s Most Inspiring Performance Award after winning the 100-yard freestyle and setting the varsity record in the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championship. She also earned Kenyon’s Jess Willard Falkenstine Award for leadership and integrity.

A double major in Sociology and Spanish, Mirus was twice recognized by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) as an Academic All-American. She was a three-time NCAC Academic Honor Roll honoree, was named to Kenyon’s Merit List all eight semesters of her career and is a four-time College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) All-American Scholar. In May, she was selected as an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winner. 

The Pam Smith Woman of the Year Award from the NCAC advances Mirus as the conference selection for NCAA Woman of the Year Award, putting her in contention for two prestigious national honors.