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On Friday, April 11th, Andy Soma (Traverse City, Mich.) has been selected as the 2024-25 male recipient of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Pat Riepma Postgraduate Scholarship. The honor, which awards each recipient, one male and one female, $5,000 in aid to the graduate school of their choice, was voted on by the Faculty Athletic Representatives of the GLIAC member institutions.
Soma, after completing his fifth season with the Lake Superior State (LSSU) men’s basketball program, became the program’s career record holder in games played with 139, including a trip to the Sweet Sixteen in 2024 and a Midwest Regional Championship and NCAA DII Elite Eight appearance in 2025. On the court, Soma was well known by his peers for his defensive tenacity, almost always matching up against his opponent’s top guard. Academically, he continued to excel off the court, earning a double major as well as the top ranking among all graduating math majors at LSSU.
Soma has also been recognized by the GLIAC as a member of the GLIAC Academic Excellence Team three times, and he is currently qualified to be recognized a fourth time with a GPA of 3.79. He was also named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team as well.
Beyond his own success, he has continued to make a difference throughout his career, devoting countless hours tutoring fellow students on campus, including providing tutoring service and support to LSSU STEP UP Program students in the Michigan State Prison System, demonstrating his commitment to academic leadership and peer development.
The Pat Riepma Postgraduate Scholarship will assist Soma in his future endeavors as he takes the next step in his education at North Carolina State University.
The GLIAC Postgraduate Scholarship is named after former Northwood University Athletic Director and head football coach Pat Riepma who passed away in July of 2015 after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer. Pat spent over 21 years at Northwood and was the all-time winningest coach in the football program’s history as well as the long time Athletic Director. While his achievements on the field and on behalf of the athletic department are impressive, Pat will be forever remembered for the person he was. Pat was a passionate, spiritual man who inspired thousands of people even before he became sick. While Pat is gone, his mantra of “Go MAD” Go Make A Difference, will live on.
Source: LSSU Athletics
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