Rose State College is proud to announce Viola Schäfer as the recipient of the 2025 Martha Whitaker Award, one of the most prestigious honors bestowed upon a Raider student-athlete. The award, given annually, recognizes a student-athlete who exemplifies excellence not only in competition but also in the classroom and the community.

The Martha Whitaker Award is named in memory of Martha Whitaker, the late wife of longtime Rose State photographer Bob Whitaker. Martha was remembered as a lifelong learner, dedicated teacher, and beloved wife, mother, and grandmother. Bob Whitaker described her as "kind, loving, selfless, caring, gracious, efficient, well-prepared, committed, dedicated, extremely talented, faithful, hardworking, generous, a great time manager, intelligent, wise, and a teacher extraordinaire." The award seeks to honor a student-athlete who embodies these same qualities.

This year's nominees included Gerardo Gonzalez (Baseball), Gaudalupe Meza (Esports), Thomas Maestranzi (Men's Soccer), Keylee Beckwith  (Softball), Dalaney Uranga (Volleyball), and Viola Schäfer (Women's Soccer).

Viola Schäfer, a two-year member of the women's soccer team from Germany, stood out among a group of exceptional nominees. Graduating with an associate's degree in psychology and a perfect 4.0 GPA, Viola has demonstrated academic excellence while balancing the demands of collegiate athletics. Remarkably, she has achieved this while studying in her non-native language—Viola speaks German, English, and Russian.

On the field, Viola has been the Raiders' starting goalkeeper for nearly every game during her tenure, earning multiple Region II Goalkeeper of the Week honors and All-Region Team selections in both seasons. But it is her character off the field that truly sets her apart.

"Viola is respected by her teammates not just for her talent, but for her humility, kindness, generosity, and work ethic," said Head Coach Tommy Riley. "She leads by example and is easy to get along with, caring, and hardworking—qualities that make her a role model for all Raiders."

Viola joins last year's winner Addison Wilson from Raider Softball.

Congratulations to Viola Schäfer on this well-deserved honor, and thank you for your outstanding contributions to Rose State College both on and off the field.