Kelley Leads Huskers Honored Off the Court

Lincoln - Dominique Kelley recently headlined a group of Husker women's basketball student-athletes who were honored for their off-the-court contributions at the University of Nebraska.

Kelley, a 5-7 guard from Lincoln, Neb., was one of 30 recipients of a Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award recognizing her contributions to NU's award-winning life skills program.

Kelley, who was an All-Big 12 performer on the court as a junior in 2009-10, had her senior season cut short on the court by injury, but continued to be a leader in the women's basketball team's community efforts. Kelley earned the honor at the 2011 HERO Leadership Breakfast on Monday, April 18.

Fellow Husker senior Jessica Periago was also recognized at the breakfast for her participation in the innovative Husker CoNnect Outreach program.

Periago, a 6-4 center from Toulon, France, was also one of several Huskers honored for their academic performance at the annual Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet on April 17. Periago, who was a three-time first-team academic All-Big 12 selection, earned high honors as a biochemistry major.

Periago was joined in being honored at the academic banquet by junior Kaitlyn Burke. The 5-7 guard from North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, also earned high honors as an advertising and business administration major through both the College of Business Administration and the College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Junior Harleen Sidhu (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada) and sophomore Layne Reeves (Lubbock, Texas) were also honored for their classroom success at the Student-Athlete Recognition Banquet, along with former Huskers Nikki Bober, Kala Kuhlmann and Nicole Neals.