For decades, Earl W. Sauder’s commitment to philanthropic giving has aided and encouraged the students of Emporia State University. The scholarship program he established in 2004 with a substantial gift of more than $1 million has supported hundreds of student-athletes who wear Hornet black and gold.
Each year, student-athletes representing all 15 intercollegiate sports offered at ESU are selected to be Earl W. Sauder Athletic Scholars. On Nov. 4, 35 student-athletes were recognized as the 2024-25 Sauder Scholars at a luncheon with the Sauder family.
After Earl Sauder’s death in 2006, his son, ESU alumnus Steve Sauder, and Steve’s wife, Bobbi, committed to carry on the tradition Earl started. Today, supporting the scholarships Earl started involves every generation of the Sauder family.
“I’m truly honored to receive the Sauder Scholarship,” said McKenya Sorrells, a Pflugerville, Texas, native who plays on the Hornets’ volleyball team. “This recognition fuels my passion and commitment as a senior at Emporia State. It inspires me to strive for excellence in everything I do and to make the most of my future after graduation.”
Also honored during the luncheon were five recipients of the Bobbi Sauder Student-Athlete Nursing Scholarship: Makenna Clark (basketball), Brooke Flewelling (softball), Samuel McDavitt (track), Gracie Rabe (softball) and Kennedy Topping (softball).
“Being a Sauder Scholar for the past three years has been an honor,” Rabe said. “This family has allowed me to play my sport and pursue my dreams of becoming a nurse without having the burden of paying for school in my mind. I am forever in debt to this family for all of the support they have given me and the Hornet softball family over the years!”
The Sauder family further strengthened their financial commitment to ESU in May 2022 with a legacy gift that ensures the scholarship will support Hornet student-athletes for future generations.
More than 450 ESU student-athletes have earned Sauder scholarships since 2004.
Earl W. Sauder Athletic Scholars 2024-25
- Abby Bachman, soccer
- Cade Barton, baseball
- Mason Bina, track
- Mia Frisbie, volleyball
- Macey Gandee, basketball
- Haley Garnett, softball
- Gracie Gilpin, basketball
- Luke Gleason, track
- Rafe Goucher, football
- Jordan Harrison, softball
- Declan Haub, football
- Tyler Kahmann, football
- Harris Kossover, tennis
- Brayson Laube, basketball
- Arhman Lewis, basketball
- Mia Manley, track
- Gwendal Mazuay, tennis
- Rylan Miller, football
- Logan Myers, baseball
- Anastasia Pesic, tennis
- Paige Putter, soccer
- T.J. Racherbaumer, baseball
- Abigael Reid-Harelson, track
- Billy Ross, football
- Ella Ruliffson, soccer
- Anton Sarunic, tennis
- Macy Smith, basketball
- McKenya Sorrells, volleyball
- Ainslee Stepp, volleyball
- Paige Stranghoner, tennis
- Ally Trier, track
- Jayda VanAckeren, softball
- Karli Wehunt, softball
- Sheriden Wichman, tennis
- Thomas Zimmerman, football
Bobbi Sauder Nursing Scholars 2024-25
- Makenna Clark, basketball
- Brooke Flewelling, softball
- Samuel McDavitt, track
- Gracie Rabe, softball
- Kennedy Topping, softball