2025-26 Winter Sport NAIA Scholar-Athletes
SEWARD, Neb. – For their work in the classroom, five student-athletes from Concordia University, Nebraska Cheer were honored on Tuesday (Feb. 24) as Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes. Three Bulldogs have earned Scholar-Athlete distinction in back-to-back years: LaCole Anno, Kalynn Jeardoe and Lauryn Stanley.
In order to be nominated by an institution’s head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, must appear on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended one full year at said institution.
Now a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete, Stanley was also tabbed a 2024-25 Academic All-District honoree by College Sports Communicators. Head Coach Emilie Ashenbach’s squad has participated in seven competitions this 2026 season and is coming off a third-place finish at the Midland Invite. Next up are the GPAC Championships.
Concordia University, Nebraska ranks as the NAIA’s all-time leader in number of Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes with 2,739 entering the 2024-25 academic year. The school record for number of Scholar-Athletes in one academic year is 226 achieved in 2019-20. Concordia has been a regular national leader for both Scholar-Athletes and Scholar-Teams.
2025-26 Concordia Competitive Cheer NAIA Scholar-Athletes
• LaCole Anno (Lincoln, Neb.)
• Cadence Fulfs (Plattsmouth, Neb.)
• Kaylnn Jeardoe (Beatrice, Neb.)
• Adelyn Opp (Lincoln, Neb.)
• Lauryn Stanley (Big Springs, Neb.)