Aubrey Kenner, a recent graduate of Maddock High School, is one of three recipients of the Gelaine Orvik scholarship.
The news was released by the North Dakota High School Coaches Association on Tuesday. The scholarship is for $1,000.
Kenner received the honors alongside Valley-Edinburg’s Elizabeth Fedje and Velva’s Leah Volochenko.
The scholarship was established in 2008. It honors former Fargo South track and field coach Gelaine Orvik, who had a 35-year coaching career and served the NDHSCA from 1974 to 2015. The scholarship recipients must be student-athlete graduates from a North Dakota high school, be planning to attend a North Dakota college or university and be planning to pursue the profession of interscholastic coaching.
According to the press release, the criteria used for consideration includes GPA, class rank percentile, athletic awards, activity awards, ACT score and leadership roles, along with an application letter and recommendation letters. The recipients should also exemplify Orvik’s values and ideals, along with the values he expected from his athletes and which all coaches should put forth.
“Aubrey has a strong work ethic, a sheer determination to succeed and is goal oriented,” Benson County track and field coach Bobby Hoffner said, per the press release. “She is an outstanding student and an excellent role model. Her character and personal qualities describe what the Gelaine Orvik scholarship is all about.”
Kenner was a three-sport athlete for the Benson County Wildcats. She will be continuing her basketball career at the University of Mary.
Kenner has already gotten some coaching experience at the 12U level for the North Dakota Attack AAU program. Her father, Bryan, is the head coach of the Benson County girls’ basketball team, which won a state championship in 2025.
The release noted that Kenner wants to be a coach because of her dad, who has coached her since she was in fourth grade.
“Ms. Kenner’s passion and love for basketball have helped in shaping her work ethic, discipline and mindset on and off the court,” the release said. “This creates a desire to learn, teach and help others succeed. Her dream is to one day give back to the game she loves.”
According to the release, Kenner ranked first in her class of 20 at Maddock and had a 20 ACT score with a 4.0 GPA. She earned 12 letters throughout her time in basketball, volleyball and track and field. She also participated in student council, choir, band, Close Up and Future Farmers of America. Her parents are Bryan and Robin Kenner.
The three recipients will be awarded with their scholarships during the NDHSCA Hall of Fame/Coach of the Year Banquet at the Mandan Baymont Hotel and Conference Center in Mandan, N.D., on July 29.