Radford University senior softball player Sydney Fisher was named Thursday morning as one of 30 candidates from across the country for the 2021 Senior CLASS Award.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and must have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition.
Fisher has 106 hits and 52 runs scored through her first two seasons in a Radford uniform. She is on pace to have the highest career batting average in Radford history (currently .402). Her name is in the single- season record book for batting average (.396 – 2019 – T7) and (.421 – 2020 – 4th). She had 82 hits in 2019, ranking third in a single-season at Radford and was just 11 shy of topping the record book.
The Appling, Ga., native has an overall 4.0 GPA with a double major in biology and chemistry and an emphasis in biochemistry and animal studies. She was selected to be a part of the next collegiate organic chemistry textbook (ninth edition, coming out in 2023). She has been on the dean’s list every semester at Radford.
Fisher was recently accepted to LSU’s veterinary school. Fisher does research in soil sample analysis and aquatic insect identification and presented some of her research at Radford University’s Winter Creative Activities and Research Days (CARD). She will present her newest research later in the year.
She gives softball lessons at home to high school students and works camps at Radford. She did a dog supply drive back home, donating dog food during the winter times when people were in need after spending money on gifts rather than on dog food. She worked for nearly four years as a vet technician in Appling.
Fisher is involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) having started Radford University’s softball chapter. She is a Huddle Leader for the Southeast FCA and leads a high school softball team in Bible study three to four days a week.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists in March, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will select the one candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four Cs of community, classroom, character and competition.
The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2021 Women’s College World Series in June.