Colorado Springs, CO –  Hayley Franke of the Black Hills State University golf team has been named to the RMAC women's golf All-Academic honor roll. The Rapid City native is a senior who is majoring in Exercise Science.
 
"Hayley was a vital part of this team; I am grateful to have coached her for two years, in which she showed great courage and leadership during those years," said head coach Kelly Welker. "Our program has been through highs and lows, but Hayley has been resilient through it all. She's a fighter and that is something I will always admire about her. Thank you Hayley for your steadfast belief, dedication, and sacrifice for this team and the greater good of humanity."
 
Franke's final season was cut short by the cancellation of spring athletics, but she took a moment to reflect on her time at BHSU.
 
"I chose to attend Black Hills State because of the amazing exercise science and biology programs that they offered," said Franke. "Also, when I visited the school's campus in high school all those years ago, which is crazy to think about, it felt like home away from home. The staff were very welcoming, friendly, and a lot of them knew my parents; who are alumni of BHSU."
 
The senior ends her career with a personal best of 81 that she shot at the third round of the RMAC Championships her junior year. She recorded a personal best two round 174 (89-85) this past season at the Mustang Invite. While she doesn't get another shot this spring, she leaves some words of wisdom for the next generation of Yellow Jacket golfers.
 
"I want to leave behind a word for my team now, and for the future team to come; Perseverance. Changes are hard no matter what they are, but we always need to try and see the brighter side of a situation. I like to look at perseverance through a 90/10 lens; 10% is a change that can happen, 90% is how someone can react and handle that new change. If you stay positive to the change, you've already beaten it. Persevere and be an overcomer."
 
Although Franke has many fond memories at Black Hills, the opportunity to travel really stands out to her.
 
"There have been so many memories from my golfing career here at BHSU that I cannot just pick one single memory, but if I had to I would choose the trips across the states. Travelling to different golf courses and getting to play them with my team. The Ocotillo Resort in Arizona was the course I looked forward to the most. The courses that I have been too are beautiful and if I ever travel back that way in the future, I will want to play/experience them again."