(Editor's Note:  This is part of a series of stories of the RUDY Award finalists.  Two winners – one male and one female – will be announced at the conclusion of the end of the R.UD.Y.S. Awards Banquet on Monday.  

R.U.D.Y.S. stands for Recognition and celebration of University of Dayton student-athletes Year-end Showcase.  It is hosted by the UD Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and Dayton Athletics administration for the student-athletes to recognize individuals and teams for their accomplishments this past year.
 
These stories were written by students in Dr. Haozho Pu's HS 353 Sports Media class.)

Written by Madeline Kapsimalis, Ryan Denning, Jack Arch

Emma Schutter, a junior on the UD softball team, has wanted to be a Flyer since she can remember. Growing up in the Dayton area, she has attended Flyer sporting events her whole life. Her father played tennis at UD, and her older sister graduated in 2018 and played on the volleyball team. She feels blessed that she gets to represent UD as a student athlete. Emma explains that "getting to express my love for this school on the softball diamond has always been my biggest dream throughout my childhood, and it is the most amazing thing to live that out."

Emma, a mechanical engineering major, is a graduate of Centerville High School and has had an enormous amount of success in her two complete seasons of UD softball. As a freshman, Emma earned countless accolades including A-10 Rookie of the Year, 3-time A-10 Rookie of the Week, A-10 First Team All-Conference, All-Rookie Team, and All-Championship Team. The Centerfielder led the team with 63 hits, a .414 average, and 23 stolen bases. Her success in the 2023 season was even more remarkable, consisting of 85 hits, a .467 average which is a Dayton single-season record, 29 stolen bases, 44 runs scored, and 29 multi-hit games. Those numbers earned her A-10 Player of the Year, A-10 First Team All-Conference, A-10 Player of the Week on May 1, and NFCA DI Mid-Atlantic All-Region First Team. 

Emma is not only successful on the field, but she has done exceptional things as a mechanical engineering student at UD. With a concentration in aerospace, Emma has done a fantastic job of balancing her sport along with academic excellence. Balancing sports and academics can be very difficult, but Emma's passion for everything she does helps her manage her time. She is diligent about planning ahead and has developed her communication skills, which has been key in her success in school and sport. In her two years, she has accumulated quite a few academic honors including Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete, 2021-22 A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll, 2023 A-10 All-Academic Team, 2023 A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll, and CSC Academic All-America Second Team. 

Q: What does being a Flyer mean to you?
A: "Being a Dayton Flyer means the world to me. Growing up in the Dayton area, I've attended softball, volleyball, basketball, and football games my entire life, and now I am beyond blessed to represent the school as a student-athlete myself. Getting to express my love for this school on the softball diamond has always been my biggest dream throughout my childhood, and it is the most amazing thing to live that out. Being a Flyer also means doing what I love with the many opportunities offered to me. With Dayton being the birthplace of flight, it only makes sense to take advantage of the great mechanical and aerospace engineering program here. I not only get to learn more about the aerospace industry, I also get to do research and share it with people across the nation!"

Q:What is one of the most influential moments in your athletic career?
A: "One of the most influential moments in my athletic career relates to volunteering at Miracle League this past fall. Our team helped the members of Miracle League at one of their softball games by assisting them with hitting and fielding. This is one of the most influential moments in my athletic career because it allowed me to put my own experiences in perspective. I am so blessed to be able to play Division I college softball and put on a University of Dayton jersey, and the members from Miracle League humbled me."

Q: Balancing sports and academics can be challenging. How do you organize your time effectively to ensure success in both areas?
A: "Balancing sports and academics can be challenging, but it is much easier when I am passionate about everything I do. I love to play softball, I love mechanical engineering, and I love the people that surround me through it all. Managing my time becomes much more doable then. Planning ahead, tools like Google Calendar, and over-communicating with coaches and professors allow me to organize my time accordingly, so that I can maximize my success in both school and sport. I also have amazing teammates who support me and are also working to manage softball with academics."

Q:How has being a student-athlete contributed to your personal growth and development?
A: "Being a student athlete has allowed me to grow and develop in more ways than one. I've learned how to communicate effectively, multitask, and become a leader. Between my classes and my team, I have built interpersonal relationships with a wide variety of people. Multitasking has also benefited me in being efficient in everything I encounter. Lastly, I am learning how to become a leader, which will support me in all phases of my life. It will hopefully support our team to bring home its first ever Atlantic 10 championship this year."

Q:What are your future goals and aspirations after graduating from UD?
A: "After graduating from UD, I plan to use my degree in mechanical engineering to get a job in the aerospace industry. Dayton has given me the opportunity to explore so many industries, and I found my passion lies in aviation. While working, I also plan to help the younger generation by sharing my knowledge of softball. I would love to give lessons, help coach a team, or share advice to little girls who also love to play softball."

PREVIOUS STORIES
Casey Bogues -- Track & Field
Destiny Bohanon -- Basketball
Connor Bruce -- Tennis 
Abby Carter -- Cross Country/Track & Field
Alicia Donley -- Soccer
Calan Gizelbach -- Cross Country
Elizabeth Hamilton -- Tennis
DaRon Holmes II -- Basketball 
Adam Jones --- Cross Country
Joe Lansing -- Football 
Annika Roush -- Rowing 
Lauren Santiago -- Track & Field