South Dakota State University Athletics
Photo by: (c) 2023 South Dakota State University
SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT TO HONOR HEYLENS
6/29/2023 2:00:00 PM | General
A group of donors and friends of longtime South Dakota State University athletics administrator Kathy Heylens have stepped forward to create a scholarship endowment in her honor.
"No one has been more of an advocate or had more of a positive impact on student-athletes at SDSU than Kathy Heylens," Director of Athletics Justin Sell said. "This scholarship endowment is a fitting and lasting tribute for someone who worked tirelessly to enhance our student-athlete experience, especially through the creation of new opportunities for our female student-athletes and coaches."
The Kathy Heylens Scholarship for Women's Athletics is in perpetuity and will be awarded each year to a Jackrabbit female student-athlete in good academic standing. Additional contributions to the endowment can be made through the SDSU Foundation.
Heylens retired at the end of the 2022-23 academic year following nearly 40 years of service to South Dakota State University and Jackrabbit Athletics. She became the institution's first full-time compliance coordinator in 1990 and took on additional roles pertaining to academic support and Title IX initiatives before moving into the positions of senior associate athletics director for compliance and senior woman administrator. Heylens provided additional leadership throughout SDSU's certification process to Division I status and served on numerous campus, conference and national committees.
In addition, Heylens served as the sport supervisor for women's basketball, soccer and softball.
"No one has been more of an advocate or had more of a positive impact on student-athletes at SDSU than Kathy Heylens," Director of Athletics Justin Sell said. "This scholarship endowment is a fitting and lasting tribute for someone who worked tirelessly to enhance our student-athlete experience, especially through the creation of new opportunities for our female student-athletes and coaches."
The Kathy Heylens Scholarship for Women's Athletics is in perpetuity and will be awarded each year to a Jackrabbit female student-athlete in good academic standing. Additional contributions to the endowment can be made through the SDSU Foundation.
Heylens retired at the end of the 2022-23 academic year following nearly 40 years of service to South Dakota State University and Jackrabbit Athletics. She became the institution's first full-time compliance coordinator in 1990 and took on additional roles pertaining to academic support and Title IX initiatives before moving into the positions of senior associate athletics director for compliance and senior woman administrator. Heylens provided additional leadership throughout SDSU's certification process to Division I status and served on numerous campus, conference and national committees.
In addition, Heylens served as the sport supervisor for women's basketball, soccer and softball.
-GoJacks.com-
Softball Weekly Update (04.07.2026)
Tuesday, April 07
Baseball Weekly Update (04.07.2026)
Tuesday, April 07
Softball Weekly Update (03.31.2026)
Tuesday, March 31
Track & Field Weekly Update (03.31.2026)
Tuesday, March 31