IWLCA Announces Inaugural Kristina Quigley Scholarship Winner

IWLCA President Alicia Groveston announced that Sarah Kellner, head coach at Regis University (CO), is the inaugural winner of the Kristina Quigley scholarship. The award honors Kristina Quigley, the former Seton Hill coach who was tragically killed in a bus accident in 2013 while traveling with her team. The bus driver and Quigley’s unborn son also did not survive. The Kristina Quigley Scholarship provides funding to allow Kellner’s family to accompany her to the IWLCA Annual Meetings next month.

Groveston, who is also the head coach at Grand Valley State University, stated, "we are so pleased to be able to honor the legacy of Kristie Quigley, by presenting the first Kristina Quigley Scholarship to someone who embodies her passion and love for family and lacrosse. Sarah Kellner resembles Kristie in so many ways. She is a wonderful mother, talented coach of a great DII program and someone who is passionate about Division II lacrosse. It is such a pleasure to be able to award this scholarship to Sarah and her family; I know Kristie would be extremely happy.”

Kellner and her husband John have three young children: 8-year old Dylan, Charlotte (5-years old) and 4-month old Emma. In her application Kellner wrote “When I heard about the scholarship program honoring Kristina I was overwhelmed with gratitude that our board and committee members were so thoughtful to consider her and her family's legacy. The Quigley family made the ultimate sacrifice and this gesture of keeping a family together for a weekend away truly warms my heart. I would love my family to be with me for the week.”

The Kristina Quigley Scholarship description reads, in part:

To honor the passion, commitment and values of Kristina Quigley, the IWLCA has established a scholarship in her name. The purpose of this scholarship will be to subsidize a trip to the location of the IWLCA Annual Meeting for the recipient’s family. The time-intensive nature of the coaching profession is significant and family time is often sacrificed. The opportunity for a family to join a coach on this trip represents the very essence of Kristina Quigley. 

“The selection committee wanted to thank everyone that took the time to apply for the first annual Kristie Quigley Memorial Scholarship. We were overwhelmed with the thoughtful and heartfelt applications,” said Michael Scerbo, a member of the committee and Kristie’s collegiate coach. “It was an extremely difficult decision to select one out of the many tremendous candidates, however, Sarah Kellner’s statements stood out and we all felt she embodied everything Kristie was as a person and coach. Personally, when I read her essay, I heard Kristie’s voice in Sarah’s words.”

The Kristina Quigley Scholarship selection committee selected Kellner on the basis of an essay response detailing her “passion for coaching and family,” and answering the question, “what would it would mean to have your family with you at the IWLCA Annual Meeting.” Kellner was very grateful to receive the scholarship, saying, “I am beyond thankful that our coaches' association is honoring the legacy of Kristina and the Quigley family. I am honored and humbled to receive the gift of time from the IWLCA. Every day, I am grateful for the support from my loving family. I am equally thankful to all of my players and staff members (past, present, and future) for their understanding and support of my family.”

The IWLCA Annual Meetings will be held November 16-18 at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida