Lansing Sun

Michigan State women's tennis player Nicole Conard has been awarded the Wilma Rudolph Student-Athlete Achievement Award by the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A). The award was presented during the 2024 N4A Convention on June 10 in Las Vegas.

This year's recipients include Parker Byrd from East Carolina, Jasmyne Cooper from the University of Wyoming, Courtney Lamas-Lanier from Florida Atlantic, and Petal Palmer from West Virginia.

Conard, originally from Boca Raton, Florida, has faced significant challenges throughout her life. She lost her father to suicide at age five and endured years of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by her stepfather and tennis coach. Additionally, she faced bullying at her tennis academy and struggled with severe mental illness, including a near-fatal suicide attempt. Despite these adversities, Conard's dedication to tennis remained unwavering.

She graduated with dual degrees in psychology and government from Dartmouth College and earned a master's degree in criminal justice from Michigan State while maintaining a demanding schedule as a Division I tennis player in both the Ivy League and Big Ten conferences.

Conard is recognized for her strength, positivity, courage, and perseverance. She serves as an inspiration to younger athletes by demonstrating resilience in overcoming adversity. Conard openly shares her journey to inspire others and advocates for mental health awareness and victims of abuse. She aims to support those suffering in silence through empathy and kindness within the criminal justice system.

The Wilma Rudolph Award honors student-athletes who have overcome significant personal obstacles to achieve academic success while participating in intercollegiate athletics. Wilma Rudolph herself overcame childhood polio to become an international track star known as "the fastest woman in the world," winning medals at both the 1956 and 1960 Olympic Games.

N4A is a professional non-profit organization established in 1975 that supports academic success for student-athletes through its diverse membership of academic support personnel. It operates under NACDA, which has been active for 59 years.

For more information on N4A, visit www.nfoura.org.