MADISON, Wis. - University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Ava Bullert has been named the recipient of the 2026 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Women's Ice Hockey Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award.
 
A senior from North Oaks, Minn. (Mounds View), Bullert sustains a 3.99 grade point average and is majoring in psychology and exercise science with a minor in management. She secured a spot on the 2024-25 NCAA Division III Academic All-District® Women's At-Large First Team. Bullert is a three-time American Hockey Coaches Association All-American Scholar and three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. She has been recognized on UW-Eau Claire's Dean's List numerous semesters and is a member of the Honors Program.
 
A team captain this season, Bullert landed on the WIAC All-Sportsmanship Team. She was named to the 2025 All-WIAC First Team and selected UW-Eau Claire's Freshman of the Year following the 2023 season.
 
Bullert is president of the WIAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, as well as UW-Eau Claire's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She is a member of UW-Eau Claire's Leadership Committee, Athletes in Action, and Cru and AIA. Bullert is an apprentice with UW-Eau Claire Strength and Conditioning, leadership intern in the Activities, Involvement and Leadership Office, and student worker for UW-Eau Claire's Athletic Department.
 
Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were:  UW-River Falls' Madison Lavergne (Sr., Warroad, Minn./Warroad); UW-Stevens Point's Grace Torma (Sr., Centerville, Minn./Centerville) and UW-Superior's Ashton Parnell (Sr., Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti).
 
The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman who served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98. Prior to this appointment, she was Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) from October, 1984 - September, 1996. Kruckman was the women's athletics director at UW-Eau Claire from 1974-84, and one of the original representatives to the WWIAC when it formed in 1971. She was inducted into the WIAC Hall of Fame in 2012.

In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average. In addition, she must be in her last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.  The award is based on academic achievements, athletics accomplishments and involvement in other campus activities, organizations and community service projects.