Dec. 7, 2017
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Former Auburn softball star Kasey Cooper has been named a recipient of the 2018 Today's Top 10 Award, announced by the NCAA.
Cooper is one of 10 exceptional former student-athletes set to receive the award at the annual NCAA Convention in January.
"Kasey is one of those unique people you run across only infrequently--she is academically gifted, athletically outstanding, and willing to work as hard as it takes to reach her goals," senior associate AD Dr. Kathryn Flynn said. "She is outstanding. It will be exciting to see what she accomplishes next."
The award recognizes former student-athletes for their successes on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Recipients completed their athletics eligibility during the 2016-17 academic year and will be recognized at the Honors Celebration on Jan. 17 during the Convention in Indianapolis.
Cooper holds the Southeastern Conference record for career runs batted in (270) and 12 school records, including career RBIs, home runs, slugging percentage, games played and games started.
In 2016, the same year that she became the first Auburn player ever to make the United States Women's National Team, Cooper was named the espnW Player of the Year and a National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American.
The Dothan, Ala. native was the Division I softball NCAA Elite 90 Award winner, presented to the student-athlete competing at a championship final site with the highest grade-point average.
Cooper, a two-time College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-American, also was a two-time SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and published two medical research papers.
In 2017, Cooper received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship. Cooper also regularly volunteered with the Alabama Power Service Organization and served as a group leader for the Auburn Leadership Institute/CONNECT.
The NCAA Honors Committee, which selects the honorees, is composed of representatives from member schools and conferences, as well as nationally distinguished former college athletes.
Before 2013, the award recognized eight student-athletes and was known as Today's Top VIII. The NCAA Honors Committee expanded the award to include 10 honorees to recognize the growing number of college athletes, sports and championship opportunities.