Alli Stumler (Vicky Graff Photo)
If Kentucky senior Alli Stumler needed endorsements to help her in the Senior CLASS Award voting, she certainly got two impressive ones from former teammates Madison Lilley and Leah Edmond on Twitter.
“Alli is an incredible human being. She deserves all the recognition she gets and more. There is no one more deserving of this award than her,” Edmond, a former Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, tweeted.
“Not a Twitter person BUT it only feels right to give @AStumler the exposure she deserves. Alli has always done everything in her power to excel on & off the hardwood (while encouraging everyone around her to do the same) — and this award is a tribute to that.,” Lilley, the national player of the year last season when UK won the national title, posted on Twitter.
Stumler is one of 10 finalists and the winner will be determined by online fan voting (you can vote daily HERE). The award is based on four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character, and competition.
Senior teammate Lauren Tharp, who is also Stumler’s roommate, says no one is more giving than Stumler.
“Personally I see every day how much she gives. It’s never about Alli,” Tharp said. “She is always talking to other players. She is just a giver.”
Coach Craig Skinner provides “all you want from a senior leader” who continually tries to improve. Skinner says she leads verbally and with body language that impacts teammates in a positive way.
Stumler, an all-American on UK’s national championship team, learned valuable lessons from past UK leaders like Edmond and Lilley.
“The best teams are the ones who give back to each other,” Stumler said. “It’s really cool to see when teammates give to others and want to see each other succeed. You start having better success. All I want to do is help make people around me better. That’s what it is all about.”
It has been for Stumler and why she fits the criteria to be Senior CLASS Award winner.
