Elizabeth Hightower is the 13th player in program history to be a Top 10 finalist for the Senior CLASS Award.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Senior Elizabeth Hightower was recently named a finalist for the 2022 Senior CLASS Award(r) Thursday afternoon. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School(r), the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their athletic platforms to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
The finalists were chosen by a selection committee from the list of 30 candidates announced earlier this season. Nationwide fan voting begins immediately to help select the winner, and fans are encouraged to submit votes online at the Senior CLASS Award website through May 23. Fan votes will be combined with those of the media and Division I head coaches to determine the winner.
“Congratulations to Elizabeth for being named a Top 10 finalist for such a prestigious award.” Head Coach Tim Walton said. “The Senior CLASS Award exemplifies what it means to be a leader on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Elizabeth exhibits excellence in all of those fields and I am happy that she is being recognized for those qualities.”
Hightower graduated magna cum laude this past December, earning her bachelor’s degree in anthropology and is now pursuing her master’s degree in sport management at the University of Florida.
Over her academic career, Hightower has been named a 2021 NFCA Scholar-Athlete, SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll honoree, and has been named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll twice.
While in graduate school, she will also contribute to an independent study that focuses on analyzing the diets of inhabitants that lived in St. Augustine, Fla. during the 17th century.
Hightower is described as a selfless leader that always exudes a team-first mentality. She sets an example through her efforts on the field, in the classroom and with her work in the community.
The Monticello, Fla. native is passionate about giving back to the community, especially veterans, as she has created and spearheaded a philanthropy called Flags for Our Fallen. The group’s members collect flags that have been flown in public but are no longer in condition to serve as a symbol of the United States and are dedicated to honoring military families instead.
In addition, Hightower volunteers in preparing and serving homeless veterans’ meals during Christmas time. She also spends spare time in the offseason helping run softball practices with a local travel ball team back home and is actively involved locally with the Food4Kids program.
Hightower, a prolific right-handed pitcher, earned her first All-America honor last season. She was also named an All-SEC second team selection and has earned multiple SEC Pitcher of the Week awards.
During her junior campaign she threw her first no-hitter against USF in the 2021 Gainesville Regional Championship game-only the fourth in program history during tournament play. She finished the regional with 13.1 innings pitched and no hits or runs allowed.
This season, Hightower holds a 2.54 ERA and is 10-3 on the season with a team-leading 87 strikeouts through 93.2 innings pitch. In Southeastern Conference play, she is the only pitcher to record two complete-game shutouts against SEC opponents this year.
The Senior CLASS Award recipient will be announced prior to the 2022 NCAA Women’s College World Series(r) in early June.
For more information on each of the finalists, visit SeniorCLASSAward.com.
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