Karen Jennings, an All-American on the court and in the classroom during her career as a women's basketball player at the University of Nebraska, has earned one of the highest honors presented to a former collegiate student-athlete with her selection for induction into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame.
Jennings, a three-time first-team CoSIDA Academic All-American (1991, 1992, 1993) and two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year (1992, 1993), will be honored with induction on June 30 at a special ceremony during the 2008 CoSIDA Convention at the Tampa Marriott Hotel in Florida.
Jennings, who won the 1993 Wade Trophy as college basketball's national player of the year, and four other honorees will join the 98 previous CoSIDA Academic All-Americans who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since the program began in 1988. The Hall of Fame recognizes the lifetime successes of former CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in their professional careers and philanthropic causes.
Jennings is joined in the 2008 CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame class by Rebecca Lobo (Connecticut), Dr. Kenneth Caldwell (The Citadel), Amy Privette Perko (Wake Forest) and Nancy Hogshead-Makar (Duke).
"The class of 2008 reflects the types of individuals who exemplify everything positive about the Academic All-America program and the Hall of Fame," said 2007-08 CoSIDA President Charles Bloom. "CoSIDA and its members are once again extremely proud to be a part of this great program."
Jennings is just the second former Nebraska student-athlete to earn induction into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame, joining Husker football All-American Dave Rimington, who was honored with induction in 2004. Nebraska Head Swimming and Diving Coach Pablo Morales, a former NCAA champion and Olympic gold medalist at Stanford, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.
Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne was honored by the Hall of Fame in 2003 with its Dick Enberg Award, presented each year to a person whose actions and commitment have furthered the meaning and reach of the CoSIDA Academic All-America program. Enberg, a legendary, Emmy Award-winning sports commentator, serves as the official spokesperson for the CoSIDA Academic All-America Program and the Hall of Fame and notified Jennings of her selection with a personal phone call.
"When Dick Enberg called me, it blew me away," Jennings said. "I was stunned, amazed and shocked. When I look at the list of the names of the great people who are in the Academic All-America Hall of Fame, and then realize that I am now on that list with them, I can't believe it. This honor is right at the top of the list for me, right there with the Wade Trophy and the two Academic All-America-of-the-Year selections. What makes this one so different from the rest is that I was not expecting it at all. It is an unbelievable honor."
As a player at Nebraska, Jennings produced the most prolific career in school history. The native of Persia, Iowa, owns the Husker career scoring record with 2,405 points while adding 1,000 rebounds in four years as a starter for NU from 1989-90 to 1992-93. As a junior, Jennings produced the best individual season in school history by averaging 25.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, while guiding the Huskers to 21 victories.
Following her junior season, she competed for the U.S. National Team at the 1992 Jones Cup, before capping her career by earning first-team Kodak All-America honors. As a senior in 1992-93, Jennings averaged 20.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game for a Nebraska team that advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and posted the first tournament win in school history.
The 6-2 forward was also chosen as the Big Eight Conference Female Athlete of the Year in 1992-93, after capturing back-to-back Big Eight Player-of-the-Year awards. A three-time first-team All-Big Eight selection, Jennings earned a prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship in 1993, as well as a Rawlings Postgraduate Scholarship. She was also a finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year.
Jennings was honored by the University of Nebraska following her career with the retirement of her jersey (No. 51) in 1994, becoming the first Husker women's basketball player to ever have a jersey retired. In 2000, she was also honored as the captain of Nebraska's All-Century Team announced in conjunction with NU's Silver Anniversary of women's varsity athletics.
After earning her bachelor's degree in exercise physiology from Nebraska in 1993, Jennings played professional basketball in France during the 1993-94 season. She returned to Nebraska and completed her master's degree in physical therapy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1998. She served as a physical therapist and a member of the Sports Medicine Team at Methodist Hospital in Omaha from 1998 to 2002, while also teaching kinesiology at University College of Healing Arts.
In 2002, Jennings shifted gears in her career, becoming a realtor at CBSHome Real Estate in Omaha. She is a licensed realtor in both Nebraska and Iowa and has consistently ranked among the top 25 among the 650 agents in the company. She earned the company's Circle of Excellence award in 2005, 2006 and 2007, while earning National Sales Awards during those same years.
Despite excelling in a fast-paced and competitive career, Jennings has found time to do extensive community service. She has been a board member for the "Joint Effort" Volleyball Tournament for the Arthritis Foundation and participated in the Corporate Cup for the Arthritis Foundation from 1998 to 2001. She has been involved in the Race for A Cure, and was a test site counselor for the Nebraska AIDS Project from 1998 to 2002. Jennings has mentored youth in the Omaha area for the past 15 years, participated in the Salvation Army's "Adopt A Family" program and has been a featured speaker at hundreds of events.
Jennings has also remained close to the University of Nebraska and the women's basketball program. She participated in Nebraska's "Breakfast for Champions" on five occasions and was involved in Nebraska's Cather Circle from 2003 to 2005. She served on the N-Club Board of Directors in 1997, and is a regular attendee at Husker women's basketball games.
"In following Karen's high school, college and professional careers for more than 20 years, I know that she has values that Nebraskans hold in the highest regard," Nebraska Coach Connie Yori said. "Karen has been a tremendous representative for Nebraska women's basketball and Nebraska athletics. She worked very hard during her career as a student-athlete, and she has applied that work ethic throughout her life, which has helped her be successful in her career."
Jennings has been a featured speaker at Nebraska's "Life After Sports" seminar, and a participant in NU's "Athletes Helping Athletes" Networking Night. She was also a ribbon cutter at the unveiling of Nebraska's Academic Hall of Distinction in 2004.
"I think it is instrumental that current student-athletes have a chance to see the influence that the University of Nebraska can have on their careers," Jennings said. "When I was a player, a lot of people came to speak to us, and I always thought it was good to see how they were succeeding in their lives after sports. I want to be able to pass that on to others as well."
CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame
Class of 2008
*honorary member
- Karen Jennings, Nebraska, 1993
- Rebecca Lobo, Connecticut, 1995
- Dr. Kenneth Caldwell, The Citadel, 1979
- Amy Privette Perko, Wake Forest, 1987
- Nancy Hogshead-Makar, Duke, 1986*