INDIANAPOLIS (July 8, 2025) – Cleveland State swimming and diving senior Jackson Nester and Milwaukee women's soccer senior Lainey Higgins have been selected as our 2024-25 Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

Dig Deeper:

• Nester is a three-time member of the Valeo #HLSD All-Academic Team, earned Horizon League Winter Scholar-Athlete of the Season honors this season and collected our men's sports 2024-25 Cecil N. Coleman Medal of Honor.
• Higgins is a three-time member of the Valeo Horizon League All-Academic Team, three-time member of the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team and picked up Horizon League Fall Scholar-Athlete of the Season recognition this fall.
• Nester won the 400-yard IM title at the #HLSD Championships all four years, registering a program record each time.
• Higgins earned #HLWSOC Player of the Year honors and United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Second Team recognition this season.
• One male and one female student-athlete are honored annually after the conclusion of the athletic year as the Scholar-Athlete of the Year, based on a combination of academic and athletic achievement.
  • The Faculty Athletics Representatives select the recipients from a pool of the year's Scholar-Athletes of the Season.