CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (December 17, 2024) — Nebraska Wesleyan University track & field standout Isabella Hogue has been named a finalist for the 2023-24 American Rivers Conference Johanna Olson Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. Hogue is one of three finalists for the prestigious honor, which recognizes exceptional achievement in athletics, academics, leadership, and community service.
A three-time national champion and eight-time All-American, Hogue's dominance on the track is cemented in Nebraska Wesleyan history. She holds six NWU track & field program records and two A-R-C championship records, underscoring a career defined by unparalleled athletic performance. Her success on the track is matched by her excellence in the classroom.
Hogue graduated in 2024 with a perfect 4.0 GPA as a communication studies major and marketing minor. Her commitment to academic success earned her recognition as the 2022 NCAA Division III Women's Outdoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete National Scholar Track Athlete of the Year. She was also a two-time College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-American First-Team honoree and a six-time Nebraska Wesleyan Dean's List recipient. Hogue graduated with Highest Distinction, a recognition reserved for only nine students in NWU's 2024 graduating class.
"More than her athletic and academic prowess, Hogue is one of the best leaders I have ever worked with," said Derrick McKenzie, NWU Director of Cross Country and Track & Field. "Her empathy for others, communication skills, and attention to simply doing the right thing makes her a model student-athlete. Hogue's leadership is evident in all that she does. She set the tone at practice and showed everyone what it takes to excel as a human being. I am 100% convinced that Hogue elevated every single person in our program to be not only the athlete they needed to be but the person they were destined to be."
Hogue's contributions extended beyond athletics and academics. She served as an academic tutor for the Karen Society, guiding and mentoring peers in need. She took on leadership roles as a transfer student representative for three years and as a prospective student leader for NWU track & field, where she helped welcome and inspire future Prairie Wolves. Additionally, Hogue gave back to her sport by volunteering at NWU's high school track meets and speaking at the university's Black and Gold Donor Event in 2023.
The Johanna Olson Scholar-Athlete of the Year award honors student-athletes who demonstrate academic excellence, athletic achievement, and outstanding leadership. The finalists were selected by the Scholar-Athlete Recommendation Committee, composed of faculty athletic representatives and athletic communication directors from across the conference. The winners, selected by a vote of all A-R-C faculty athletic representatives, will be announced on January 8, 2025, at rollrivers.com.
Hogue joins a long line of Nebraska Wesleyan student-athletes who have excelled in competition, the classroom, and the community. She continues to embody the values of the Prairie Wolves and remains a shining example of what it means to be a student-athlete at Nebraska Wesleyan
To see the complete list of finalists and learn more about the A-R-C Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, click here.
