Guile Earns Heart and Soul Award

Senior Ashley Guile earned one of Nebraska's most prestigious honors on Monday, as she was presented with the Heart and Soul Award at the annual HERO Leadership Breakfast.

The Heart and Soul Award, formerly known as the Gerard Life Skills Award of Excellence, has been dubbed the "Heisman of Life Skills". Each recipient must be a senior student-athlete who is in his or her final season of athletic eligibility. Guile is the first Husker softball player to receive the award since the award was created in 2007-08.

Earlier this season, Guile was one of 30 national candidates for the 2012 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for softball. A special education-mild/moderate disabilities major, Guile has been committed to community service and outreach in her five years at Nebraska. A native of Olathe, Kan., Guile is an active member of the community, volunteering her time in several different ways.

She has been active in volunteering for youth softball leagues and working with special-needs children. Guile has also volunteered her time at other youth-oriented events, as well as volunteering at an assisted living home and serving as a mentor for the past four years. She also served as a two-year volunteer to raise money for the Friendship Home, which provides support and shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

Guile has also been active in the community as part of Nebraska's team efforts, including participating in walks and fundraisers to raise money for cancer research. Her efforts helped the softball team take home top honors in the NCAA-sponsored Life Skills team competition for the 2010-11 school year, which annually honors Nebraska's most active team in the community.

On the field, Guile is batting .345 this season with seven doubles, two home runs and 30 RBIs. In her career, Guile ranks second in school history in hit-by-pitches (26), fourth in walks (99), 10th in RBIs (113) and doubles (34) and 17th in batting average (.315).

Guile was also one of five Huskers to be honored for their commitment to the Husker Connect Program on Monday. In addition to Guile, junior Courtney Breault, sophomores Tatum Edwards and Kylee Muir and fifth-year Heidi Foland were recognized for their year-long involvement in the program, which matches a Husker student-athlete with a Lincoln Public Schools student based on similar interest or shared life experience for a weekly, one-hour meeting.

Rounding out the list of softball honorees at Monday's breakfast were a pair of Huskers who earned a HERO Leadership Award. Foland and senior Madison Drake each received the honor, which is awarded based on exceptional leadership, consistent and dedicated community service and positive influence on the team. Drake was also honored at the banquet for her commitment to the Nebraska Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

On Sunday, 13 Huskers earned an academic medallion at the annual Nebraska Student-Athlete Recognition banquet. Drake and classmates Ashley Hagemann and Nikki Haget, along with junior Megan Southworth, Foland and fellow fifth-year Julie Brechtel all earned highest honors, while Guile and junior Brooke Thomason earned high honors and junior Gabby Banda, Tatum Edwards, Muir and seniors Haley Workman and Kirby Wright earned honors.