Brenau swimmer Olga Bukowska was named the Appalachian Athletic Conference’s 2025-26 Colonel John Sullivan Female Student Athlete of Character.
The award is given annually to a male and female athlete in the AAC who exemplify the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ Champions of Character core values: integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. The athletes are nominated by their schools and voted on by the athletic directors of the AAC.
“It is truly an honor to be acknowledged in this way, and I am acutely aware that this achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering support of so many,” Bukowska said. “If not for the kindness extended to me by my academic environment, including not only professionals but also my fellow student-athletes, and if not for the trust bestowed upon me, I would not be here today. Looking ahead, I hope to display the sportsmanship that this award and this title represent while trying my best to bring honor to the Golden Tigers.”
A native of Sosnowiec, Poland, Bukowska traveled nearly 5,000 miles away from home to attend Brenau on a swim scholarship. Bukowska is a rising senior and was also awarded Brenau’s Baxter-Bryan Scholarship in the spring, the university’s highest academic honor. She is the co-captain of the swim team, first serving as co-captain last year, and has previously served on the Student–Athlete Advisory Committee. This past February, she placed ninth in the individual medley at the NAIA National Championship.
On campus, she has a 4.0 cumulative GPA, is president of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, vice president of the psychology club, a Sullivan Foundation fellow, a resident assistant, and a member of multiple clubs. Additionally, she volunteers locally with Project YET and Swim Across America, and teaches swim lessons.
The award is named after Colonel John Sullivan, who served as the conference’s president and then as its first commissioner from the league’s formation in 2001 until his retirement in 2022.
