Morris, Minn. – Following a University of Minnesota Morris Athletic Department vote, Shannon Dougherty, Anna Molstad, Siri Overturf, and Mary Cate Ziembiec have been recognized with senior awards for the 2025–26 academic year.
 
Willis Kelly Award
Presented to a senior female athlete who exemplifies the spirit of competition at Morris in women's athletics, the award is given in memory of Willis Kelly, a physical education coach and athletic director at Morris for more than 20 years. She was the first director of women's athletics in 1975 and later served as director of both men's and women's athletics from 1982 until her retirement in 1987. Recipients must earn a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average.
 
The 2025–26 Willis Kelly Award winners are Shannon Dougherty and Mary Cate Ziembiec.
 
Dougherty swam all four years for the Cougars and can be found throughout the Minnesota Morris record book. In her career, she recorded 27 top-six finishes at the Liberal Arts Championships and was a 15-time All-Liberal Arts Championships selection. Dougherty also served as a captain of the swim team.
 
Academically, Dougherty earned numerous honors, including the Darlene Olen Scholarship, the 2025 William B. Scarborough Memorial Award, Scholar All-American recognition, CSC Academic All-District honors, Chi Alpha Sigma National Honor Society membership, and multiple appearances on the Dean's List.
 
In the community, Dougherty made an impact as a preschool and kindergarten Sunday school teacher. She volunteered with Feed My Starving Children and participated in various community service efforts, including organizing at Morris Area Elementary School and Someplace Safe, assisting with blood drives, tutoring, volunteering at clothing drives and food shelves, delivering cookies and cards to homebound community members, assembling school and baby kits through Lutheran World Relief, and participating in park cleanups.
 
Dougherty is an elementary education and middle school English major and plans to become an elementary school teacher while also coaching swimming and softball.
 
Ziembiec competed in four seasons with the Minnesota Morris volleyball team. In her final two seasons, she earned Upper Midwest Athletic Conference First Team All-Conference honors. In 2025, she was named UMAC Offensive Player of the Week twice and finished third in the conference in kills per set.
 
In the classroom, Ziembiec earned UMAC All-Academic honors twice and was named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-Academic Team three times.
 
During her time at Minnesota Morris, Ziembiec volunteered with Feed My Starving Children and Cougar Volleyball Camps.
 
Ziembiec is a business and management major and plans to pursue a career in marketing.
 
Women's Honor Athlete Award
The Honor Athlete Awards are selected by a committee of coaches based on academic and athletic achievement. Recipients must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Siri Overturf is the 2025–26 Women's Honor Athlete Award winner.
 
Overturf was a member of the Minnesota Morris track and field team for four seasons. She earned UMAC All-Conference honors during her junior season after finishing second in the hammer throw. During the 2026 indoor season, Overturf was named to the UMAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
 
Academically, Overturf contributed to published research, received the 3M Science and Technology Graduate Fellowship, won Best Poster at the Polymers and Materials Symposium, earned the Morris Academic Partnership Award, appeared on the Dean's List six times, and earned UMAC All-Academic honors three times. She also served as the 2026 Chemistry Student Representative.
 
Throughout her four years in Morris, Overturf participated in Highway Cleanup efforts.
 
Overturf is a chemistry major and plans to attend graduate school after completing her degree at Minnesota Morris.
 
Women's Cougar Excellence Award
The Cougar Excellence Award is presented annually to a fourth-year student-athlete who represents the best of Cougar Athletics through passion, dedication, athletic competitiveness, and academic engagement. Recipients must have competed at Minnesota Morris for at least two years. Anna Molstad is the 2025–26 Women's Cougar Excellence Award recipient.
 
Molstad played four seasons with the Cougar volleyball team. In her final two seasons, the right-side hitter earned UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention honors. She totaled 581 kills while hitting .208 during her career.
 
Academically, Molstad earned UMAC All-Academic honors three times, appeared on the Dean's List four times, and concluded her career with CSC Academic All-District recognition.
Molstad volunteered with Feed My Starving Children and Cougar Volleyball Camps during her time at Minnesota Morris.
 
Molstad is a double major in biology and psychology and plans to attend graduate school to pursue a career in psychiatry.
 
The men's senior awards will be released on April 3.