Muskingum softball senior Haley Hawk has been named the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Scholar-Athlete of the Month for May.

Hawk, a first baseman, is the epitome of a scholar student-athlete. She is a nursing major and a two-time All-OAC honoree, including being named the OAC Rookie of the Year her first year and earning First Team All-Central Region accolades.

Hawk's devotion on and off the field is a quality admired and respected by her teammates and coaches. This year, she leads the Muskies with a .408 batting average with a team-high 51 hits, 29 RBIs, and 11 doubles while also excelling in the classroom by being named the March Science Student of the Month. Hawk was also selected by Muskingum coaches as the Muskingum OAC Female Clyde Lamb Award recipient and as a co-recipient of the Barbara Steiner Outstanding Senior Female Athlete.

"When asked about Haley, my best description is an intelligent young lady with a workhorse mentality," said Muskingum Head Softball Coach Kari Winters. "Haley has been an extremely passionate student academically and athletically since stepping foot on campus. She has blessed our program with a strong level of care and commitment while living up to the high standards of the tradition behind Muskingum softball."

Hawk's play this season helped propel Muskingum to a Top 25 ranking earlier this year and to a second-place finish in the OAC. Throughout her tenure, Hawk has been a force at the plate with a career .402 batting average with 151 hits, 100 RBIs, 49 runs scored, 33 doubles, and 10 home runs. Her all-conference play led the Muskies to the 2019 OAC Regular Season Championship and top-seed and hosting rights to the OAC Tournament. She is a multiple-time OAC Player of the Week nominee and has been honored with Academic All-OAC accolades. Hawk has been recognized on the Dean's List six times.

"Though at times quiet, Haley has led her teammates and has wholeheartedly shown what it takes to excel on the field and in the nursing program. If our program continues to recruit young women like Haley Hawk, we will be in good shape for years to come," said Coach Winters.

On campus, Hawk is an active member of Muskingum's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has helped lead several campus initiatives, including Hoop for Hunger Food Drives, Muskie Pride games, and the Golden Hook Awards. She is also a member of the Beta Beta Beta Biology Honorary and has helped coach and lead several youth softball camps.  

The OAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month honors an exceptional student-athlete on a monthly basis. Criteria for the award consist of the student-athlete being a junior or senior status, competition in a sport that is in-season, sportsmanlike conduct, and carrying at least a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0.