ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Tusculum College senior Kate Hutchinson has been selected as the 2014-2015 South Atlantic Conference Women's Tennis Scholar Athlete of the Year announced league officials Wednesday.

This marks the fifth time that a Tusculum women's tennis player has earned the award, which recognizes athletic accomplishments, academic achievement, community service and leadership. The award is selected by the faculty athletic representatives of the league's 12 member institutions. TC's five honorees are tied for the most by a SAC school since the 1999-2000 academic year.

Hutchinson, a native of Calhoun, Georgia, boasts a 3.81 cumulative grade point average while majoring in pre-medicine. She has been named an ITA Scholar-Athlete three times in her career and earned South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll honors each season as well. Hutchinson has been selected to the Charles Oliver Gray Honors List , Tusculum College Athletic Director's Honor Roll and the Dean's List all four years.

"Kate is a true leader by example both on and off the court," said Tusculum tennis coach Tommy Arnett. "I know she will serve humanity in the role of not only as a fine medical doctor, but as a person who helps the world be a better place for us all to live in."

Hutchinson was a 2014 All-SAC honorable mention selection. This past season, she compiled a 15-4 overall singles record playing primarily at the fourth flight. She was 9-2 in conference action and won seven of her last 10 matches to close out the season. On the doubles side, she was 15-5 with partners Kealee Heffner and Emily Waters playing in the first and third flights.

Hutchinson is a four-year letter-winner and owns a 57-20 career singles record and a 51-26 mark in doubles competition. She also had a career-best 16-1 singles record as a freshman.

Hutchinson is very active in the community as she has volunteered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and served with Rural Resources as a volunteer. She has been involved with Habitat for Humanity, while working with Safe Harbor Homes as a service learning project volunteer. She spent two years volunteering at the Greene County Humane Society as well as a tennis camp counselor in Georgia and Tennessee.

This past season, Hutchinson was named the secretary of the Tusculum College Alpha Chi National Honors Society and the TC Science Club. She has been a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council for the past three years and was nominated to the Tusculum College Presidents Society during her junior and senior years. Hutchinson also served as a member of the Tusculum Student Government Judicial Board this past year.

During her collegiate career, Hutchinson led the Pioneers to a combined 73-13 overall record, including 35-5 in South Atlantic Conference play. Tusculum went 18-2 this season, earned a No. 31 national ranking and finished second in league play while advancing to the semifinal round of the SAC Tournament.

Since 2000, 53 Tusculum student-athletes have earned SAC Scholar Athlete of the Year honors for their respective sports, the most of any league member during that time span.

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