By Jade Chlapowski '18
Wilbraham & Monson Academy's Emma Kindblom '17 received the Dr. George E. Rogers Scholar Athlete Award during the 2017 Commencement ceremonies, held May 27th at the Academy. The award is given to the member of the graduating class who has demonstrated maintained academic and athletic excellence.
Emma was a student at WMA from 2010, her sixth grade year, through graduating as a member of the class of 2017. During her time at the Academy, she participated in Varsity Field Hockey, Varsity Winter Track and Varsity Softball, all of which she excelled in.
Throughout her high school career, Emma received various distinctions based on her athletic ability. She noted some of her highlights to be softball All-League for all four years of high school, playing in the WNEPSA All-Star Game her sophomore year, receiving the Softball MVP her senior year, the Field Hockey MVP her senior year, and the Winter Track MVP her junior and senior years. Kindblom was also captain of all three of her sports during her senior year at WMA.
Emma played center forward for the Titans' Field Hockey team, helping the team to achieve its best record in WMA history.
"Emma had that quality every coach wants in a player: passion," WMA Field Hockey Coach Bill Wells said. "She had a certain fight to her...a tenacity and determination that she wasn't going to be beaten. She worked extremely hard in games and she worked equally hard at practice. She always gave us 100 percent."
Similarly, Emma demonstrated a strong work ethic as both a shortstop and a pitcher on the Softball field during her time at WMA.
"Emma has been the most disciplined athlete I have ever coached when it comes to work ethic and the pursuit of maximizing her ability and performance," Coach Kindblom said. "Her focus from a young age has been how to get better, and she understands that in order to do that she has to focus on what she can control, which is her attitude, her effort and her preparation, physically and mentally."
Emma also remained dedicated to her academics at the Academy, consistently earning a spot on the Honor Roll throughout high school, and earning Highest Honors for all three trimesters during her senior year.
According to Coach Kindblom, "Everything she has done as an athlete to become a better softball player translates to the way she approaches her academics to become a better student: work ethic and discipline. It is great to see her hard work and perseverance pay off for her not only on the athletic field but also in the classroom."
Through her tight schedule and rigorous course load, Emma learned how to manage her time.
"I feel like having what little free time we have during the day has made me aware of how to use it productively," said Emma, who will attend and play Division I softball at Manhattan College next school year.
