Senior outfielder Kelsey McGuffin received a service honor due to her intense dedication to giving back away from the field, as Conference USA announced Thursday that the four-year letter winner for WKU softball is one of 14 recipients of the Air Force C-USA Spring Spirit of Service Award.

This award recognizes the community service efforts of athletes in C-USA. It is based on significant public service, good academic standing, and participation in their respective sport. The award is presented three times a year and Thursday’s presentation corresponded to the spring sports.

McGuffin became the second WKU softball player to be recognized for this award after Kathryn Downing earned the honor in the spring of 2017.

The Elizabethtown, Kentucky, native is on track to graduate in December 2019 and has earned NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete and C-USA All-Academic Softball Team honors throughout her four-year career. She also earned C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Medal recognition during all four years as a player.

According to a press release, McGuffin is majoring in physical education with a concentration in teacher education and minors in health education and coaching. McGuffin has also worked with the Southern Kentucky Special Olympics, Big Red Readers program, Read Across America, WKU Red Wave, WKU P.E. Majors Club, FCA, and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

McGuffin appeared in 191 games over her career, starting 164. She finished her career with 104 hits, 26 doubles, one triple, 16 home run and  57 RBIs. She posted a career .968 fielding percentage and slashed .245/.362/.424. McGuffin also earned C-USA All-Tournament Team honors in 2017.

Reporter Alec Jessie can be reached at 270-745-6291 and [email protected]. Follow Alec on Twitter at @Alec_Jessie.