GREENVILLE, S.C.- Every year, the National Christian College Athletic Association announces a handful of Game Plan 4 LIFE Character Award Winners. Each sport has an award associated with it and on Tuesday night at the Division I National Championship Banquet, the NCCAA announced the Women's Volleyball recipient of the Susan R. Hellings Award.
Kiera Brown (Columbia Falls, Mont./Columbia Falls) was announced as the second player in the history of UNW Volleyball to win the award.
The Susan R. Hellings Award, along with the other Game Plan 4 LIFE Character Awards from the other sports, is one of the most prestigious honors that the NCCAA bestows each year. This is the NCCAA's description of the award: "Susan R. Hellings played volleyball in the mid 1970's at Houghton College. She was a starting hitter for her championship team. Susan exemplified Christian leadership on the court, not allowing anything to stand in the way of team unity. She was an excellent student as demonstrated by being her high school valedictorian and graduating Summa Cum Laude from college with a B.A. in mathematics. Susan was the type of student-athlete who exemplified all the characteristics that this award is intended to honor."
The Susan R. Hellings Award goes to the Women's Volleyball player that the NCCAA feels best represents the organization athletically on the court, academically in the classroom, and most importantly spiritually through Church involvement and service. Below, Eagle fans can find an excerpt from the NCCAA's press release:
"The NCCAA is pleased to announce
Kiera Brown (Columbia Falls, Mont./Columbia Falls) of the University of Northwestern as the 2023 Susan R. Hellings Award Recipient for Division I Women's Volleyball.
Brown is the spiritual and cultural leader for the Eagles. The team captain is able to be a shepherd to her teammates as she has confidence in who God is and who she is in Him. Brown has served as a Ministry Partner for UNW, taking responsibility for the spiritual development of her hall in various ways, including leading a weekly Bible study. She has also worked multiple volleyball camps, sharing her testimony with many young volleyball players. Brown joined the UNW volleyball team on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, sharing the Gospel at orphanages, a sugarcane village, and a women's home. She is also active in her hometown church, occasionally leading worship.
The senior from Columbia Falls, Montana has been a key offensive and defensive student-athlete for the Eagles over an incredible four-year run. Brown played in the NCCAA National Championship game in 2020 and helped guide the team to the NCAA Division III Final Four in 2022. This season, the middle blocker has accumulated 188 kills on a .299 hitting percentage along with 97 total blocks (these were Brown's stats at the time this award was announced). Brown has been named Honorable Mention All-Conference in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) three times. In the classroom, Brown holds a 3.49 GPA in media production and has earned academic honors that include UMAC All-Academic and NCCAA Scholar-Athlete.
Head Coach
Beth Wilmeth said, "Kiera has a vibrant relationship with her Savior that spills into everything she does. She has been involved in leading Bible studies, mission trips, local outreach projects, and has a strong passion for using every moment to make an eternal impact."
