MADISON, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Jessie Ruden (Sr. - Rochester, Minn./John Marshall) is the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete for women's basketball. The WIAC announced the award on Wednesday.
Ruden maintains a 3.84 grade point average and is majoring in nursing. She is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Ruden has received Dean's List recognition from UW-Eau Claire every semester and earned Academic Distinction. She is a member of UW-Eau Claire's Honors Program.
A team captain this season, Ruden is a three-time All-WIAC first team selection and claimed Co-Player of the Year distinction in 2022. A year ago, she added D3hoops.com All-America Second Team accolades and Women's Basketball Coaches Association Honorable Mention recognition. Ruden also received D3hoops.com All-Region First Team honors a season ago. She helped UW-Eau Claire claim the WIAC Tournament title in 2022. Ruden was selected her team Most Valuable Player a year ago and eclipsed the 1,000 career point mark earlier this season.
She has volunteered with a local elementary school, the Blugold Buddies Basketball Camp and a youth girls basketball team. In 2022, she participated in a nursing clinical immersion trip.
Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-La Crosse's Alana Gilles (Sr., Lodi, Wis./Lodi); UW-River Falls' Taylor Crissinger (Sr., Fairmont, Minn./Fairmont); and UW-Whitewater's Abby Belschner (Sr., Grafton, Wis./Cedarburg).
The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman who served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98. Prior to this appointment, she was Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) from October, 1984 - September, 1996. Kruckman was the women's athletics director at UW-Eau Claire from 1974-84, and one of the original representatives to the WWIAC when it formed in 1971. She was inducted into the WIAC Hall of Fame in 2012.
In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average. In addition, she must be in her last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years. The award is based on academic achievements, athletics accomplishments and involvement in other campus activities, organizations and community service projects.
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