Maria Kuhlman of Belmont Abbey Chosen 2020-21 Murphy Osborne Award Winner
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Maria Kuhlman of Belmont Abbey has been chosen as the winner of the prestigious 2020-21 Conference Carolinas Murphy Osborne Award.
A senior from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, Kuhlman owns a 3.99 grade-point average as a Theology major at Belmont Abbey. She also is minoring in Psychology and Sport Management.
The Conference Carolinas Elite 23 Award Winner in women’s basketball last season, Kuhlman was also a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection in the 2019-20 season.
On the court, Kuhlman was named the Conference Carolinas Freshman of the Year in the 2017-18 season. She has been a first team all-conference selection in 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21. Kuhlman also earned all-conference honors as a third team selection in the 2017-18 season. Kuhlman was an all-region selection in the 2019-20 season.
The four-time all-conference selection is also a member of Belmont Abbey’s 1,000-point club.
Kuhlman has been strong in the community during her time at Belmont Abbey. A member of the Psychology Club and FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), Kuhlman is also serving as a compliance intern with the athletic department this semester. In addition, Kuhlman has volunteered at the Charlotte Samaritan House (short term recuperative care for the homeless) and at Mount Hollyween, which is a community event on Halloween in Mount Holly, North Carolina.
The Murphy Osborne Award is Conference Carolinas' Outstanding Senior Student-Athlete Award.
Student-Athletes are nominated by their institutions based on their academic, athletic and service accomplishments. The Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) from all Conference Carolinas institutions submit institutional nominations and votes are cast by the FARs.
To be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must be a December or May graduating senior or a first-year graduate student completing athletic eligibility at the same institution as undergraduate matriculation. The student-athlete must be a full-time student at the time of nomination, must have been a full-time student at the member school for at least two years and must be a starter or important substitute in a conference sport.
The award is named for longtime educator and college and university administrator Dr. Murphy Osborne.
2020-21 Conference Carolinas Murphy Osborne Award Winner
Maria Kuhlman, Belmont Abbey
2020-21 Conference Carolinas Murphy Osborne Award Finalists
Grace Arredondo, Chowan
Morgan Buchanan, King
Callie Burnette, Barton
Anna Daly, Erskine
Alexis Forbes, Converse
Hope Forrester, Emmanuel
Olivia Johnson, Southern Wesleyan
Millie Klafsaas, North Greenville
Maria Kuhlman, Belmont Abbey
Candise Lockett, Mount Olive
Amanda Lubkemann, Lees-McRae
Murphy Osborne Scholar-Athlete Award Winners
1984-85: Brad Eldridge (Catawba)
1985-86: Teresa Sweatman (High Point)
1986-87: Mary Jo Lindley (Guilford)
1987-88: Matthew Mason (Guilford)
1988-89: Julie Barbee (Wingate)
1989-90: Theresa Shea (High Point)
1990-91: Andrew Lisk (High Point)
1991-92: Sandeep Mulay (Barton)
1992-93: Stephanie Ferri (Pfeiffer)
1993-94: Stephanie Ferri (Pfeiffer)
1994-95: Elizabeth Clack-Freeman (Coker)
1995-96: Alana Hill (Lees-McRae)
1996-97: Nikki Hall (Longwood)
1997-98: Murrel Timmons (Lees-McRae)
1998-99: Candace Phifer (Pfeiffer)
1999-00: Michelle Adams (Lees-McRae)
2000-01: Deedra Oates (Pfeiffer)
2001-02: Harmony Noda (Limestone)
2002-03: Dianna Plyler (Erskine)
2003-04: Jamie McFadden (Barton)
2004-05: Jessica Martin (Erskine)
2005-06: Brenna Clark (Pfeiffer)
2006-07: Audrey Barker (Pfeiffer)
2007-08: Samantha Mitchell (Mount Olive)
2008-09: Kyle Bennett (Erskine)
2009-10: Jamie Lancaster (Anderson)
2010-11: Jocelyn Smith (Erskine)
2011-12: Vincent Chauvette (Erskine)
2012-13: James Sweeney (Coker)
2013-14: Rodrigo Avila (King)
2014-15: Francesca Ceppi (Mount Olive)
2015-16: Megan Nanney (Belmont Abbey)
2016-17: Calvin Hawke (Barton)
2017-18: Robert Poole (Mount Olive)
2018-19: Rachel Berkey (Erskine)
2019-20: Steffi Kong (Converse)
2020-21: Maria Kuhlman (Belmont Abbey)