Senior Nikki Hegstetter, of the Alabama women’s basketball team, was named a candidate for the 2016 senior CLASS Award along with 30 other NCAA Division I women’s basketball student-athletes. These student-athletes are chosen based on their achievements off the court in the community as well as the classroom.

Hegstetter is a three-year graduate of the University of Alabama through the marketing program and was awarded the Austin Scholar for Outstanding Senior in the Culverhouse College of Commerce. The 6-2 forward from Kennesaw, Georgia received this award from the college, which is given to an undergraduate student in the Culverhouse College of Commerce and Business Administration who excels in said programs.

Hegstetter is currently in her senior season with the Crimson Tide, where she is averaging 8.3 points and 7.5 rebounds. The three-time member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll has excelled in the realm of community service, where she has been named twice to the SEC Community Service Team. Hegstetter volunteers with multiple service programs around Tuscaloosa, including The Miracle League of Tuscaloosa, local high school camps, the DCH Manderson Cancer Center and the Capstone Village Retirement Community.

Hegstetter, along with the awards named above, was given the James Larry Carmichael Department of Marketing Outstanding Student Service Award, which is given to a student with the best reputation for service around Tuscaloosa.

The 30 nominees will be evaluated and narrowed down to 10 in February. Once those 10 are chosen, they will be put on an ballot which will be distributed to the national media, who will then select one female and one male player who thrives in community, classroom, character and competition.