2025 Cleo Tanner Award Winner: Katie McNeela ’14

North Central College honored former Cardinals women's soccer player and coach Katie McNeela '14 as the 2025 Cleo Tanner Award honoree during the College's annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration on Feb. 6, 2025.

In her acceptance speech before an audience of North Central student-athletes, she said: "North Central is where I found my voice, my purpose, my people. From player to coach to staff member, every role has deepened my connection to our athletics program. Receiving the Cleo Tanner Award is an honor that feels like a full-circle moment. Our North Central athletics program transforms athletes into leaders, day after day — and it's a privilege to work with this group and be recognized for this award."

McNeela graduated from North Central with a bachelor's degree in marketing and organizational communication with a minor in psychology. A standout member of the Cardinal women's soccer team from 2010 to 2014, she led the Cardinals to the program's first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Tournament appearance in 2012. She anchored a defensive unit that pitched six shutouts in 2011, was second on the team in goals scored in 2013, and was named Academic All-CCIW selection all four years.

"During my first campus visit, I remember the distinct feeling as though I wasn't just another name on a roster. Who I was, and what I wanted to accomplish in my four years mattered. The coaches didn't just talk about wins and losses; they talked about growth, community, and impact. The faculty didn't just discuss majors; they talked about connection and possibilities. It became clear to me that this was a place where individual stories mattered. And because of that approach, my four years at North Central were some of the most impactful years of my life."

The Cleo Tanner Award for Outstanding Contributions to North Central College Women's Athletics was first awarded in 2006 to honor the contributions of an individual or individuals who have positively influenced women's athletics at the College. Cleo Tanner was a pioneer in the North Central College athletics program. She arrived at North Central in 1928 as the physical education director for women. She later served as advisor to the College's Women's Athletic Association and was promoted to Associate Professor in the Physical Education Department. She was Head Women's Tennis Coach from 1931 until her retirement from the College in 1970. Her efforts in the field of women's athletics are still felt in the campus community today.

The Cleo Tanner Award is presented annually in February in conjunction with North Central College's National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration. The celebration includes a panel discussion featuring current student-athletes from across North Central women's athletics.

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