Penn’s Erin Ludwig earns prestigious Cato Scholarship

Erin Ludwig has made an impact at Penn High School in earning a Top 10 Academic ranking in the Class of 2018, playing on two State Championship Girls Soccer Teams, and leading an effort to raise more than $40,000 to resurface the tennis courts at Prairie Vista School.

Ludwig’s impact was honored by the Indiana High School Athletic Association, which awarded the Penn student-athlete with a C. Eugene Cato Memorial Scholarship.

Ludwig, who is also a member of Penn’s state-power Tennis team, is only the second student-athlete from Penn to earn a Cato Scholarship. Jaclyn Kondratko of Penn earned a Cato Scholarship in 2006.

A total of 13 student-athletes in Indiana earned a Cato Scholarship in 2018. The Scholarship rewards the efforts of Indiana’s complete student‐athletes. These well‐rounded, positive role models have demonstrated excellence in academics, school and community involvement, character, sportsmanship and citizenship.

Each Cato Scholarship winner will receive a $2,500 scholarship for their prep accomplishments and be recognized on Thursday, April 19, 2018 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom in downtown Indianapolis as part of the Thomas A. Brady Sports Achievement Awards established by Methodist Sports Medicine. Methodist Sports Medicine, Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance, Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Fever, Indiana Pacers, Sport Graphics, Inc., and WTHR‐13 have partnered with the IHSAA to sponsor the program.

“Winning the Cato Scholarship is a great honor and it means a lot to me to be honored among student-athletes throughout Indiana,” Ludwig said. 

Ludwig said that athletics have been an important part of her experience at Penn. This past season, the Kingsmen were named National Champions.

“I appreciate so much about my Penn Soccer experience,” Ludwig said. “I appreciate the lifelong friendships I have made with my teammates and all the time I got to spend with my team and the great coaches. I appreciate how hardworking my team is. They all inspire me to be the best player and person I can be every day. 

“Participating in high school athletics has prepared me for life after high school, because it has taught me to be determined and never give up.” 

Penn Girls soccer coach Jeff Hart said that he has known Ludwig for a number of years as a travel soccer and high school soccer coach.

“As a classmate and longtime friend of my own daughter, Regan, I've been privileged to interact with (Erin) away from the field many times as well. 

“Erin is a high character, focused, caring young person,” Hart said. “Her GPA speaks for itself. Being ranked eighth in a class with over 800 kids confirms her drive, her quiet competitiveness and her intellect.  As a two-sport athlete at Penn, she was a member of back-to-back state champions on the soccer team.  She's also found time to play tennis and not only participate in so many other activities, but take on a leadership role. “

Hart said that Ludwig has carved out an inspiring legacy at Penn.

“(Erin) is an example of what Penn High School and the IHSAA hope all our young student-athletes strive to be,” Hart said. “She's worked consistently hard during four years at Penn and she's pushed herself while always being a great teammate with a team-first attitude.  We will miss her a great deal in the (Penn Girls Soccer) program but I'm excited to see where her combination of intellect, work ethic, and sense of service to others takes her."