AUBURN, Ala. – After an All-American Auburn equestrian career, Caroline Fredenburg returned to the Plains Saturday, back in the saddle to receive the Leah Rawls Atkins Award at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Presented annually for excellence in academics and athletics to a student-athlete who models leadership, integrity and courage, the Leah Rawls Atkins Award is the highest honor an Auburn senior woman student-athlete can receive.
“It’s very special because a lot of those women who have been recognized for the Leah Rawls Atkins Award before me are people I look up to,” Fredenburg said. “It’s special to be included with them.”
Fredenburg’s parents and three younger brothers joined Caroline on Pat Dye Field before Auburn’s Homecoming game win over Vanderbilt.
“It’s a full-circle moment,” she said. “They’re the ones who helped me get here. They support me so much. They came to all of my meets from Indiana, so it’s very special.”
Equestrian coach Jessica Braswell also joined Fredenburg on the sideline. In her four seasons at Auburn (2022-26), Fredenburg competed in 60 meets, earning 37 horsemanship wins and claiming 11 Most Outstanding Performer honors.
“It’s amazing to be back with my Auburn family too, and getting to enjoy the atmosphere of the game,” said Fredenburg, who earned All-SEC recognition in horsemanship in each of her four seasons.
Fredenburg excelled academically as well, graduating in biomedical sciences from Auburn University’s College of Sciences and Mathematics while representing Auburn on a cultural immersion trip to Germany.
“It really helped me develop in so many ways,” Fredenburg said of four years at Auburn. “Maturing as a person, as a leader and as athlete too. It gave me so many opportunities in college that aren’t even athletically related. I traveled to different countries. I had so many opportunities, leadership-wise and athletically. It’s really a blessing for me.”
An aspiring physician, Fredenburg is using her gap year to apply for medical schools.
“Right now, I’m working and hoping to get into medical school next year,” said Fredenburg, who added the 2026 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award to her many honors.
Still competing individually riding family horses, Caroline Fredenburg will take the experiences she gained as an Auburn student-athlete into her medical education and career.
“The dedication and hard work I got to experience from my teammates and coaches,” she said. “It’s a really exciting program and they put a lot of work into the individual, and I appreciate that so much.”
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer