The four seniors on the 2021 Kalamazoo College softball team were honored prior to a home game on Saturday, April 24. Following is what was read during the ceremony:
Prior to the start of today's games we would like to take a moment to honor the four senior members of the Kalamazoo College softball team - Maija Weaver, Sammi Luzadre, Keelin McManus, and Nina Szalkiewicz. These four women are the epitome of the term "student-athlete," working tirelessly and succeeding both in the classroom and on the field. Their contributions to the Kalamazoo College softball team are significant and greatly appreciated.
Maija is from Haslett, Michigan and Haslett High School. Academically, Maija is a biology major and classical civilizations minor. During her junior year she participated in a study abroad program in Rome, Italy. She successfully completed her Senior Individualized Project titled "Using Reach-Scale Environmental Factors and Fish Abundance to Predict Macroinvertebrate Biomass in Tributaries of the Duck River Watershed." Maija has been named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll three times and has twice been named an NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete.
Athletically, Maija is a four-year letter winner for the Kalamazoo softball team. Maija has played 23 games for the Hornets and was voted "Best Teammate" for the 2019 season. Her passion and dedication for softball and her teammates is something that will be missed by players and coaches alike. Maija's tireless work has made a lasting impact on all around her and on the softball program.
Following graduation, Maija will be moving to Oregon where she has accepted a fisheries job. She will also be returning to graduate school to pursue a degree in fisheries and wildlife.
Ladies and gentlemen, Maija Weaver.
Sammi is from Niles, Michigan and Buchanan High School. Academically, Sammi is a biology major with a concentration in neuroscience. She successfully completed her Senior Individualized Project titled "Migration in Neuronal Activation into Right Hemisphere of Stroke Patients with Aphasia using Real-Time Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging."
Athletically, Sammi is a four-year letter winner for the Kalamazoo softball team. She has played in 92 games for the Hornets and is a career .249 hitter with 53 total hits, 13 doubles, 2 triples, 1 home run, and 34 runs batted in. Defensively, Sammi has been a pitcher and infielder. As a pitcher, she has appeared in 64 games while striking out 138 batters. She has a career .958 fielding percentage.
Sammi is third in career wins and second in single-season wins in school history. She is third in single-season innings pitched, fourth in single-season strikeouts, and third in single-season starts as a pitcher. She is also second in single-season doubles as a hitter.
Following graduation, Sammi has accepted a full-time position at Eurofins Microbiology Laboratory running different types of bacterial assays.
Ladies and gentlemen, Sammi Luzadre.
Keelin is from Haslett, Michigan and Haslett High School. Academically, Keelin is a chemistry and German double major. She successfully completed her Senior Individualized Project titled, "Forging an Identity through Rap Music- How German Rappers of Migrant Descent Create a New Identity with Rap" (written in German). Keelin was named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll for the 2019-20 season.
Athletically, Keelin is a four-year letter winner for the Hornets. She is a career .264 hitter with 68 career hits, 19 doubles, 5 home runs, and 42 runs batted in. Defensively, Keelin has been a pitcher, infielder, and outfielder. She has appeared in 61 games as a pitcher and has 121 strikeouts.
Keelin is third in school history in career home runs and second in single-season home runs. She is also third in single-season walks drawn.
Following graduation, Keelin will be attending Western Michigan University to pursue a Master of Arts in chemistry and a PhD in science education, concurrently.
Ladies and gentlemen, Keelin McManus.
Nina is from Clinton Township, Michigan and Regina High School. Academically, Nina is a business major and German minor. She successfully completed her Senior Individualized Project titled, "Gauging the Impact of Social Media Influencers on Brand Reputation and Purchase Intent." Nina has been named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll twice and was named an NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete for the 2018-19 season.
Athletically, Nina is a four-year letter winner and two-year captain for the Hornets. She is a career .270 hitter with 77 career hits, 14 doubles, 1 home run, and 35 runs batted in. Defensively, Nina has been a middle infielder and catcher. She has a career .941 fielding percentage.
Following graduation, Nina has accepted a fellowship from Fulbright Austria to teach English abroad.
Ladies and gentlemen, Nina Szalkiewicz.
Once again, please join me in congratulating and thanking these four seniors for their hard work, sacrifice, and dedication to the Kalamazoo College softball program.