Milwaukee City Wire

Kortnie Volk has been awarded the Horizon League's Post-Graduate Scholarship, as announced by the league office. This decision was made by the league's Faculty Athletic Representatives. Volk shares this honor with Ian Cleary of Oakland and is only the second Panther to receive this scholarship since its inception in 2014.

Horizon League Commissioner Julie Roe Lach stated, "We are honored to recognize Kortnie and Ian as our Horizon League Post-Graduate Scholarship Award winners. These extraordinary students have made a major impact in their campus communities and exemplify our commitment to maximize educational opportunity through sports. We are proud of their achievements and wish them the best beyond the horizon as Kortnie pursues her chiropractic degree and Ian continues his education at medical school."

Volk is set to graduate with a degree in kinesiology, maintaining a perfect grade-point average of 4.00. She plans to attend Northwestern Health Sciences University for a Doctor of Chiropractic degree starting this fall. Her academic achievements include being a three-time member of the Horizon League All-Academic Team and five-time honoree on the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll.

She expressed gratitude upon receiving the scholarship: "It is an honor to be chosen for this scholarship among the many other talented and well-deserving student-athletes in the Horizon League," Volk said. "I am eternally grateful for the countless opportunities Milwaukee has provided me during my four years. I would not be where I am today without all the coaches, athletic staff, professors, teammates, and family members who have supported me during my career."

Volk's contributions extend beyond academics; she played a key role in multiple team successes at Milwaukee, including two Horizon League Championships in track & field. She holds top-ten marks in several events within Milwaukee track & field history.

Her leadership roles included serving on Milwaukee track & field's leadership council and participating actively in initiatives like the Green Bandana Project that promote student mental health.

Outside athletics, Volk volunteered extensively with local track clubs, participated in community service activities such as Make A Difference Day, and assisted with events organized by Milwaukee Recreation.

Reflecting on her experiences, Volk shared: "Throughout my time as a student-athlete at Milwaukee, I have learned the importance of persistence, hard work, and building an enriching community."

The Horizon League annually awards post-graduate scholarships to one male and one female student-athlete who demonstrate excellence academically, athletically, through service, and leadership qualities.