VCSU’s, Sadie Hansen, earns NAIA Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award
Valley City State's Sadie Hansen has been selected as the national winner of the NAIA Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award, the NAIA office announced Monday.
The prestigious Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award recognizes one male athlete and one female athlete who best demonstrate the NAIA Champions of Character values of respect, integrity, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership in their daily lives.
Hansen will be honored during the 2025 NAIA National Convention in San Diego, where she will receive her award at the annual NAIA Awards Banquet.
"Her passion, determination, empathy, positivity, communication skills, and leadership skills combine to make her a person every athlete on her teams, every student in her classes, every coach in her two sports, and every teacher in her classes holds as a model for who we should all aspire to be," said Dave Bass, VCSU's Faculty Athletic Representative.
Hansen, an elementary education major at Valley City State, is a member of the Viking volleyball and track & field squads. On the volleyball court, she totals more than 3700 set assists and 1100 digs in her Viking career.
She is a three-time All-Conference selection and was named NSAA Setter of the Year and 3rd Team All-American as a junior.
"It is a joy to coach such a motivated and driven young woman," said Michelle Meiklejohn, head volleyball coach. "Sadie is always eager to learn and improve as a volleyball player, and a person. Her competitive spirit is contagious, and she led our program to its first ever NAIA National Tournament appearance."
Volleyball teammate Danielle Hagler said, "Sadie always checks in on all of us on the volleyball team. She asks if we need any help in school or if there is anything else that she can do to help us. This shows the respect and commitment for us to thrive as a volleyball team but, more importantly, to thrive as students in our academic programs."
In track and field, Hansen has earned All-Conference honors in shot put four times and javelin once. She qualified for the NAIA National Championships in the javelin last season with a 39.95-meter throw at the conference meet. She has also collected NAIA and NSAA Scholar-Athlete awards during her tenure at VCSU.
Hansen leads by example by remaining humble and empowering others to be their best. "On the court, I've
learned to become selfless and give all my glory to God and my teammates who support me to lead them. Whenever I step onto the court, weight room, or any gathering with my team, I want what is truly best for them and empower them to do their best," said Hansen. "I serve with humility by focusing on the team's culture and ensuring that my team deserves all the credit for the work they put in every day. Inspiring my teammates and believing in what we can accomplish has been a pronounced feeling that I will choose to do every day for all of them."
The Oakes, N.D. native has been involved in VCSU's Phone-a-Thon for the past three years. She was on the New Student Orientation Crew, assisting with new student orientation sessions. She served as the student-athlete advisory board committee's Vice President for the past two years.
Hansen was the NSAA Board of Student Athletes representative in 202223 and 2023-24. She volunteered at the Special Olympics, taught Sunday School at a local church, and assisted students with diverse background needs.