Dani Hicks' collegiate playing career concluded before Thanksgiving.
She has, however, earned yet another plaudit prior to Memorial Day, as the women's soccer senior forward has been named the 2025-26 Great Midwest Athletic Conference women's Collegiate Achievement Award winner.
"This award means so much to me," Hicks said. "I'm thankful for my teammates, coaches, and trainers who made this journey possible. It's been a privilege to play alongside such incredible young women at Ashland who continue to push me to be a better person today and who helped shape me into the player I was my last four years on the field. I'm especially grateful for God's guidance through it all. My faith has carried me every step of the way.
"It's an honor to be recognized as the G-MAC Women's Collegiate Achievement Award winner among so many talented athletes. I hope the dedication and commitment I've shown in the community and in soccer can represent the G-MAC and Ashland University well and will continue to demonstrate what these four years have taught me."
From the Great Midwest web site about the award –
Each institution shall nominate one male and one female finalist for the Collegiate Achievement Award, employing the institution's own selection process. The nominees will be selected on the basis of athletic accomplishments, academic successes, and contributions to their specific sport(s) and the institution's overall athletic program over the student-athletes' collegiate career at the institution.
Hicks finished her Ashland career as the women's soccer program's fourth-best goal scorer (47), tied for the third-most assists (29) and its third-best point scorer (123). During her four seasons as an Eagle, the team won three Great Midwest tournament and two league regular-season titles, and made four NCAA Division II postseason appearances.
This latest honor adds to what has been an impressive haul for Hicks over the last four years, including:
- 2025 and 2024 College Sports Communicators (CSC) second-team Academic All-America
- 2025 United Soccer Coaches (USC) and Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) second-team All-American
- 2025 and 2024 D2CCA Midwest Region Player of the Year and first-team all-region
- 2023-25 USC first-team all-region
- 2023-25 CSC Academic All-District
- 2025 Great Midwest women's soccer tournament Most Valuable Player
- 2025 and 2024 Great Midwest women's soccer Offensive Player of the Year and first team
- 2024 D2CCA second-team All-American
- 2023 D2CCA first-team all-region
- 2023 All-Great Midwest first team
- 2022 All-Great Midwest second team
Through the 2025 fall semester, Hicks sported a 3.95 cumulative grade-point average as an Accounting major.
Off the pitch, she racked up more than 160 hours of community service while at Ashland, including:
- Assisting with AU women's soccer youth camps and ID camps through coaching, mentorship, and camp operations
- Volunteering at the Ashland County Animal Shelter, helping care for animals and walking dogs
- Supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation through fundraising and awareness efforts for children and families in need
- Serving with the Student Wellness Team at AU by promoting campus health initiatives, assisting with outreach events, and participating in wellness education programming
Hicks is the third Eagle since AU's athletic department has joined the Great Midwest to earn the Collegiate Achievement Award, along with
Annie Roshak (2023-24 women's) and
Trevor Bassitt (2021-22 men's).
"Dani excelled throughout her career on and off the field," said
Al King, Ashland Director of Athletics. "She had the vision and understanding that she could make a difference in any number of ways as a student-athlete. She was persistent in looking for ways to improve life for students at Ashland University. She had to face some obstacles health-wise during her time at Ashland and she showed her resolve in coming back to be one of the country's top players. She possessed incredible courage and determination.
"Dani is someone we will point to in the years to come as a role model for our student-athletes. It's been a pleasure to have her in an Ashland University uniform."
Added Eagle head women's soccer coach
Cayleb Paulino, "A great way to cement the legacy Dani has left on both Ashland University and the women's soccer team. The G-MAC women's Collegiate Achievement Award encompasses not only success on the field but also in the classroom and service within the community. Dani has led by example in all three of those areas in her time here at Ashland. While also being named both All-America and Scholar All-America this year, this award truly shows the impact Dani has had here in her career at Ashland University."
