ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Already a two-time First Team All-AMC honoree, junior Jessica Keilholz was selected as the American Midwest Conference nominee for the prestigious A.O. Duer Scholarship for female athletes. Presented as part of the NAIA National Awards Program, this scholarship is presented annually to one male and one female student-athlete from any sport who has attained junior academic standing and excels in scholarship, character and citizenship.

Keilholz is a pitcher and outfielder for William Woods softball entering her final season of competition in 2024-25. The Chamois, Mo., native earned First Team All-AMC honors as a pitcher in 2023 and followed that with a First Team nod in 2024 as an outfielder. She led the Owls with a .379 batting average, adding 30 RBI and 15 extra-base hits, playing all 48 games for Woods.

In the classroom, she has also excelled, earning her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Advertising and Marketing in just three years. She finished her undergraduate career with a 3.97 GPA and is continuing on to earn her MBA at Woods.

Keilholz is also a member of Alpha Chi, an interdisciplinary collegiate honor society that works to help its members channel creativity and curiosity into scholarship that serves the greater good.

The competitive scholarship is named for 26-year executive secretary of the NAIA A.O. Duer, commonly recognized as one of the founding fathers of the NAIA. In addition to serving as the executive secretary from 1949 to 1975, he was affiliated with the association almost since its inception in 1937, and has been inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame as well as the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Keilholz advances to the national ballot, with the winner to be announced during the NAIA National Awards Day on September 15.


What Her Nominators Had To Say:
Tracy Gastineau, William Woods Softball Coach/Associate Athletics Director/Senior Woman Leader
"During my coaching tenure, I have had the privilege of coaching some very hard-working athletes. Jessica is one such athlete. She is a very hard-working player and unselfish teammate and has been since she stepped foot on our campus. I would take a dozen kids of her character and morality any day. Jessica is truly one of those people that make those around her better humans."
 
Wade Orschein, Owensville High School Teacher/FFA Advisor
"Jessica possesses the rare qualities so hard to find in today's society. Growing up on the farm she is no stranger to hard work and dedication. Those qualities have carried over into her athletics, academia and many other areas of her life. She understands the importance of faith and family, which are so important in retaining the good in our society. Her ability to prioritize and hold those two things
as items of importance while maintaining outstanding academic grades and continuing her collegiate athletic career is why I chose her to be my daughter's Godparent. I truly couldn't ask for a better role model for my daughter than Jessica."
 
Travis Tamerius, William Woods Center for Ethics and Global Studies Director
"[Jessica] has distinguished herself as one of our finer students. In the classroom, Jessica demonstrates many outstanding qualities. She is an exceptionally hard worker who takes pride in what she does as a reflection of who she is. She is curious and intelligent, and her learning extends beyond the syllabus and the assignment. As a student-athlete at the Woods, she has continued to demonstrate [hard work and personal responsibility]. She has become quite skilled at managing her workload. She understands the vital role that her efforts contribute to the overall success of the team. She is pleasant to be around and eager to grow, which makes her both coachable on the field and teachable in the classroom."