Highlands scholar athletes Giulia Simioni, left, and Molly Enenbach, right, were tapped for Cowgirl Way scholarships Oct. 14. Mike Melton, center, Southwest Capital Bank regional president, presented the scholarships, which the bank sponsors. Photo: Margaret McKinney/Highlands University
Las Vegas, N.M – Two Highlands University women athletes who are stellar in both the classroom and their sports were tapped for Cowgirl Way scholarships.
Molly Enenbach is an All-RMAC Conference soccer defender and maintains a 3.94 GPA. Basketball point guard Giulia Simioni, also an All-RMAC Conference player, maintains a 3.69 GPA.
Both athletes received $500 scholarships. Enenbach is a senior from Aztec, New Mexico majoring in biology with a minor in media arts. Simioni is a junior from Switzerland majoring in English.
“With this Cowgirl Way scholarship we wanted to highlight the hard work women athletes at Highlands put into their sports just the way the men do,” said Mike Melton, regional president of Southwest Capital Bank, the scholarship sponsor. “This scholarship is also an opportunity to help meet the ongoing financial needs of outstanding women athletes at Highlands who are highly successful in the academic arena.”
In 2010, Southwest Capital Bank embraced a partnership with the university’s Foundation for Cowgirl Way, an endowed scholarship program for women athletes who exemplify high academic standards, grit, determination, courage and strong ethics.
Enenbach and Simioni were honored at the Cowgirl Way luncheon Oct. 14 at Highlands.
“Like the women of the old West, you have forged your own path in life and athletics is a big part of that,” said Highlands University President Sam Minner. “You continue to break down barriers for yourself and other women athletes who will follow. I congratulate you and say well done.”
Highlands University coaches were asked to recommend scholar athletes for the scholarship.
“Molly Enenbach serves our team as the captain and has excellent leadership skills on and off the field,” said Oscar Mendoza, head soccer coach. “She has been our anchor on defense this season and is the glue that holds our team together, including her ability to be an outstanding mentor. Molly is also a superb student who carries a 3.94 GPA. She is a pillar in the community through her strong commitment to community service projects that she helps organize for our team with nonprofits like the Animal Welfare Coalition and Good Samaritan House.”
Enenbach also officially chartered a new club at Highlands called the International Service Group. It is fundraising for a medical trip to Guatemala in May 2016.
Head women’s basketball coach Brianna Finch said: “Giulia Simioni is one of the most hard-working players I have ever coached. Her drive and work ethic are unmatched and admired by her teammates, who voted her as one of the team captains last year. Giulia finished second in the RMAC in assists per game last season and will be returning as a leader in this category. As a student, Giulia exhibits those same qualities she carries as an athlete. She is a great student, carrying an overall GPA of 3.69. Giulia is actively engaged in many community service projects and activities, including ones like the Crop Walk for Hunger and Highlands’ Out of the Darkness 5K Run for Domestic Violence Prevention.”
Della Gomez was tapped for the Cowgirl Way Spirit Award for her extraordinary commitment to athletics at Highlands. The longtime Highlands employee has been the administrative assistant to the Athletic Department for several years. She earned her B.S. in human performance and sports from Highlands.