Greenville, SC – The NCCAA is proud to announce Julia Schultz of Grace Christian University (GCU) as the winner of the 2025 Joe & Q Harding Award for Division II Women’s Soccer.
 
A staple of the GCU defense, Schultz has been pivotal in guiding the Tigers to a spot in the NCCAA Coaches Polls this season, scoring three goals and adding an assist this season in 15 starts. She has helped Grace Christian record five shutouts this season, including three straight to end the regular season, as the Tigers outscored their opponents 28-0 to conclude the year. Schultz is a two-time Midwest All-Regional First Team selection and was a second team NCCAA All-American in 2022.

Off the field, Schultz is a two-time NCCAA Scholar-Athlete, holding a 3.97 GPA while pursuing a master’s in ministry. The Bellaire, Michigan native graduated with honors in May 2025, earning her bachelor’s degree in both Biblical studies/leadership and ministry while minoring in youth ministry and business. 
 
At Grace Christian, Schultz is a four-sport athlete, seeing time on the GCU women’s basketball, women’s tennis, and women’s cross country teams while away from the pitch with the women’s soccer program. She is also an RA for one of the dorms on campus and has led various student prayer groups on campus. She has held volunteer roles at different ministry positions at home and in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has been on several international mission trips to Kenya, Paraguay, Brazil, and Mexico. 
 
Grace Christian Head Women’s Soccer Coach Sean Wilson said, “Since Julia was a freshman, she has been unashamed of her faith in Jesus Christ. For the last four years all those around her have seen it on display on a daily basis in the way she lives her life. In terms of character on the field and off, she would rank in the top percentile of all athletes at Grace in the last decade.”
 
Other Nominees
Hope Ketcham – Faith Baptist Bible College
Megan Prigge – Maranatha Baptist University
 
Award Description
Joe served multiple terms as NCCAA Men’s Soccer chair while coaching at Huntington University and Moody Bible Institute. His teams collected three NCCAA National Championships, and Joe earned both the NISOA Honor Award and the NCCAA Frank Jewell Award for his excellence and integrity in coaching. His most recent honor was as an inductee into the Malone University Hall of Fame (2021). Carol, or as all her friends know her, Q, was a five sport standout at Wheaton College. Throughout the years, while a university professor and assistant coach to Joe, she was an encourager and advocate for NCCAA, especially within the sport of soccer. She was a prayer warrior for Joe and his student-athletes and also for many of Joe’s opposing coaches and peers, always caring more for those leaders than for the result of the matches. The NCCAA is honored to be able to present this award in the names of Joe and Carol “Q” Harding.