FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason women's soccer student-athlete Dacheka Kolcum has been selected as a recipient of the George Mason OrthoVirginia Student Achiever Award, an honor that recognizes outstanding student-athletes for their efforts in the classroom and out in the community.
 
The Leesburg, Va. native was honored at the George Mason men's basketball game against Penn on Friday.
 
Dacheka Kolcum has been on the Dean's List and earned the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll during her time at Mason. Dacheka sprang into action after Haiti was struck by a devastating earthquake on August 18th to assist her home country. Working through the non-profit organization An'n Met Me (Let's Join Hands), Kolcum has worked diligently to raise money for necessities, including clean water, clothes, food, and toiletries for those directly impacted by the earthquake. 
 
To date, Kolcum has raised approximately $5,000 towards the Haitian relief effort and continues to raise funds towards providing humanitarian aid.  
 
Upon her graduation from Mason this spring, Dacheka plans to open her own non-profit organization and travel to Haiti to continue to provide relief efforts.
 
A Mason soccer standout, Kolcum led the Patriots in goals (2) in 2020-21, assists (1), and points (5). Dacheka's efforts on the field earned her Atlantic 10 Player of the Week honors during the 2020-21 season. In the 2021 season, Kolcum earned a shot on goal percentage of .500 and scored the sole goal against Penn which she dedicated to Haiti.
 
OrthoVirginia Student Achiever Definition:
 
The OrthoVirginia Student Achiever Award has been put into place to recognize outstanding student-athletes not just for their athletic performances. The student-athlete can be recognized for anything that they have done that exceptional outside their playing field… whether it be community service, leadership on campus, consistent performance in the classroom, incredible attitude, recovering from a long injury, improvement on the field, etc.