Columbia's Caleigh Huot Named AMC A.O. Duer Scholarship Nominee
Written by Bruna Niederkorn, AMC Assistant Commissioner
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Columbia College track and field student-athlete Caleigh Huot has been selected as the American Midwest Conference (AMC) nominee for the A.O. Duer Scholarship Award.
Named in honor of the NAIA's former executive secretary, the A.O. Duer Scholarship Award recognizes one male and one female junior student-athlete who have excelled in scholarship, character, and citizenship.
A junior from Loose Creek, Mo., Huot has distinguished herself through academic excellence, athletic success, leadership, and campus involvement.
Pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, Huot has maintained a perfect 4.00 GPA while earning recognition as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete and an AMC Academic All-Conference selection.
"When it comes to character, she sure does a great job, as Alaina Leverenz, PhD, Director, Center for Social Media & Assistant Professor, Marketing at Columbia shared
"Despite often being the youngest in the room, she leads with quite confidence. She listens carefully, supports her peers, and steps forward when the moment calls for it. Her teammates (and classmates) trust her because she is reliable, thoughtful, and consistently respectful of others. Her maturity, kindness, and steady work ethic make her not only an outstanding student but the kind of person who elevates everyone around her. It is amazing seeing her mentorship of new students in the social media center and how she helps them grow into the best versions of themselves," shared Alaina Leverenz, PhD, Director, Center for Social Media & Assistant Professor, Marketing at Columbia.
On the track, Huot has emerged as one of the top sprinters in the American Midwest Conference. She tied the Columbia College indoor school record in the 60-meter dash, captured AMC championships in both the indoor and outdoor 400-meter dash, and helped the Cougars win the 4x100-meter relay conference title twice. She has also earned 14 AMC All-Conference honors during her career.
"On the track, Caleigh exemplifies perseverance, teamwork and competitive excellence as a member of the college's Women's Track and Field team. Balancing athletics with rigorous academics requires remarkable discipline, and she meets this challenge with poise and determination. Her recognition as an All-American Midwest Conference (AMC) and All-District athlete further highlights her commitment to both personal and team success," said Sam Fleury, Columbia's Chief Strategic Communications Officer.
Huot's leadership extends well beyond competition through her campus involvement, professional development, and service to the Columbia College community.
She serves as vice president of the American Marketing Association and volunteers with Columbia College Giving Day. In addition, Huot is a designer for The Blue Print, Columbia College's student-run design agency, and serves as a social media and marketing intern for the Robert W. Plaster School of Business, where she has demonstrated an ability to translate client and institutional needs into effective visual communication while balancing collaborative and independent projects.
"Caleigh demonstrates strong citizenship and campus involvement. Her leadership as the Vice President of the American Marketing Association, volunteer efforts with Columbia College Giving Day, and willingness to support others illustrate a genuine desire to contribute to something greater than herself. She is respected by peers, faculty, and staff because of her positive attitude, reliability, and integrity," concluded Amanda Wooden, Director of Grossnickle Career Service Center at Columbia.
"Caleigh brings an outstanding attitude to her work and the overall classroom environment. She is dependable, communicates thoughtfully, and consistently demonstrates discipline, critical thinking, and a passion for learning. She takes initiative, meets challenges with curiosity, and is invested in continuously improving her skills," shared Dr. Bethanie Irons, Assistant Professor of Arts at Columbia.
Since the launch of the Center for Social Media & Alumni Communication (CSMAC) in the Robert W. Plaster School of Business in the fall of 2024, Huot has played an integral role in the student-driven social media initiative. As one of the program's first student employees, she quickly established herself as a dependable leader.
"In that time period, Caleigh has established herself as a hard-working professional and rose into a Project Manager role for CSMAC where she will manage our four student-workers, and ensures the strategic content calendars are executed with great content," stated Jonathon D. Moberly, JD, MBA, Dean of the Robert W. Plaster School of Business at Columbia.
Up Next
As the AMC nominee, Huot is now eligible for the NAIA A.O. Duer Scholarship Award. The national recipient will be announced during NAIA National Awards Day on September 15.