Chippewa Valley Times

Clare Hohman, a long-time member of the UW-Eau Claire athletics community, has been honored with the 2024 Sandy Schumacher Courage Award. The award was presented to her at the Blugold Hall of Fame banquet.

The Sandy Schumacher Courage Award, established in 2012, commemorates Sandy Schumacher, a notable coach and advocate for women's athletics at UW-Eau Claire. Schumacher's legacy includes founding various women's sports programs and hosting camps for girls. She continued to support athletics even during her battle with cancer until her passing in 2012.

The award recognizes female Blugold student-athletes or alumnae who have demonstrated perseverance and determination in overcoming life-altering challenges.

Hohman's journey at UWEC began as a volleyball and basketball student-athlete. Over the years, she took on multiple roles within the athletics department, currently serving as Marketing and Promotions Coordinator for Blugold athletics.

In 2020, Hohman faced her own challenge when diagnosed with uterine and ovarian cancer. She underwent surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Despite COVID restrictions limiting support from family during treatments, Hohman expressed gratitude towards her medical team and community for their unwavering support.

Kim Wudi, current volleyball coach who nominated Hohman for the award, praised her resilience: "I am eternally grateful and incredibly proud of Clare for adding the titles of 'warrior' and 'survivor' to her resume." Wudi highlighted Hohman's steadfast dedication to UWEC athletics throughout her battle with cancer.

Hohman recently received positive news regarding her health status following regular check-ups. She remains hopeful about reaching full recovery in the near future.