HAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State women's soccer student-athlete Emily Reitz has been named the recipient of this year's Torch Award, an honor given to the outstanding graduating senior from the class of 2023.
 
Reitz was a part of the women's soccer team for four years, earning honorable mention All-MIAA status as a defender during her senior season in 2022. She was a constant force on the Tiger back line that allowed 0.71 goals against average last season, second-best in the MIAA. The 2022 squad tied the program record with 12 shutouts, allowing just 15 goals in 21 matches.
 
A native of Longmont, Colo., Reitz appeared in 52 matches over three official seasons as a Tiger, making 35 starts. She was listed on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll after each season in addition to earning four MIAA Academic Excellence Awards and one MIAA Scholar-Athlete Award.
 
Off the pitch, Reitz was also successful in the classroom, graduating with a 4.00 GPA, while actively participating in several on-campus student organizations. She served as president of the Pre-Physical Therapy Club, as a Phi Epsilon Kappa (PEK) honors fraternity member and as a member of the FHSU Honors Society.
 
Reitz graduated Summa Cum Laude in December 2022 with a degree in Health and Human Performance emphasizing in Sport & Exercise Therapy. She plans to pursue her doctorate in physical therapy at Creighton University in Omaha this fall.
 
One of Reitz's nominators mentioned, "Whether in the classroom, on the soccer field, or in the community, Ms. Reitz was a leader her fellow students could look up to."
 
Reitz is the fourth student-athlete to receive the Torch Award over the last seven years, joining Alec Bevis (2022), Keshawn Sewell (2018) and Giles Fox (2017). This is the second-consecutive year that a former soccer student-athlete earned the prestigious award.
 
The Torch Award was created in 1974 as one of three annual commencement awards given by the FHSU Alumni Association. Candidates are nominated by members of the faculty and staff on the basis of classroom excellence; leadership; participation in campus, community, or national organizations; and involvement in student, civic, or research activities. Nominees are graduating seniors or students who graduated in December of the previous semester. Awardees are selected by a committee of FHSU faculty and staff from a pool of nominated students.
 
More information can be found in the press release from the office of University Relations and Marketing here.