Dr. Kari Wanat (2015) - Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Dr. Kari Wanat

Class

1999
Induction

2015
Sport(s)

Volleyball

Kari Wanat, who played volleyball for the team from 1995-99, was inducted into the Florida Tech Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, Feb. 20, 2015. Wanat holds the program career mark for career digs with 1,791, 2nd in the SSC then. She is also a Florida Tech's 1,000 Assists and 1,000 Digs club member.

In her senior season as team captain for the second straight season, Wanat recorded the second-most digs per set at that point in program history, at 5.06, only behind herself from the previous season. The conference and the nation would take notice as she earned All-SSC Second Team for the second time. Wanat earned her second Florida Tech Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor and her first Florida Tech Senior Student of the Year.

As the first-time team captain in 1998, Wanat was a defensive force, setting the all-time program record in digs per set at 5.15. The 505 digs on the season were second in program history to herself and 4th in SSC history. Her defensive pedigree earned her first All-SSC Second Team honor. Florida Tech also awarded her the Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award.

In 1997, Wanat popped up 555 digs for the most in a season by a Panther and the conference.

Wanat was a force on the court and in the classroom, making the Dean's List every semester from 1995-99 and the SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll four times from 1996-99. She was GTE Academic All-Region in 1997, 1998, and 1998 and FTE Academic All-America Second Team in 1998. She received GTE First Team Academic All-America in 1999.

She also earned multiple awards in Molecular Biology, including Florida Tech Oustanding Junior in 1998. Then, earning the same award as a senior and the American Society for Microbiology Undergraduate Research Fellowship Award the following year. Wanat graduated with a 4.0 GPA and earned Florida Tech Distinguished Scholar Athlete in 2000. The SSC also deemed a Scholar in 1999-00.

Florida Tech Records