Wayne State College's Nate Cunningham has been named the NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year for baseball, as voted on by the league's head coaches and was presented by the league office prior to Wednesday afternoon's NSIC Baseball Tournament game in Sioux Falls between Wayne State and the University of Sioux Falls. 
            The NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year Award is presented annually to a baseball student-athlete who has competed at their institution for four years, is academically superior and has made a positive contribution to their team and university. The award honors a senior who exemplifies the attributes of the model NSIC student-athlete through excellence in athletics, academics and community engagement.
            Cunningham, a native of Elkhorn and a graduate of Elkhorn North HS, is double majoring in finance and international business at Wayne State and holds a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade-point average.
            On the field, Cunningham has put together one of the top seasons in Wayne State history, earning 2026 NSIC Player of the Year honors. The senior shortstop led the NSIC in hits and ranked in the top 10 in nine statistical categories. He recorded 24 multi-hit games and 15 games with multiple RBI, while also earning NSIC Player of the Week honors on March 16. Cunningham is tied for third in the league with 15 home runs and ranks fourth in batting average (.372) and slugging percentage (.707). He becomes the first Wayne State player to be named NSIC Player of the Year since 2009.
            In the classroom, Cunningham has been equally impressive, earning the NSIC Elite 18 Award in each of the past two seasons as the top scholar-athlete at the NSIC Championship event. He is a recipient of the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic Award with Distinction, a two-time NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence selection and a four-time Wayne State Presidential Scholar-Athlete.
            Beyond athletics and academics, Cunningham has been active in the community, volunteering with the Miracle League of Sioux City, the Wayne Community Food Pantry and local youth baseball clinics. He has also participated in numerous service projects, including packing backpacks for elementary students, assisting with church and community events, supporting local schools and helping residents with moving and community needs throughout the Wayne area.
            "Nate is extremely deserving of this award," said Head Baseball Coach Alex Koch. "In all my years of coaching, Nate has been the ultimate student-athlete. He is the hardest-working and most intelligent player I have ever coached. To finish his four years with a double major and a 4.0 GPA says a lot about his work ethic. On the field, he is putting together one of the best seasons Wayne State has seen in a long time."