Harrogate, TN -- Lincoln Memorial women's soccer senior defender Donna van der Zalm has been named the First Century Bank Scholar-Athlete of the Week following her exceptional performance both in the classroom and on the field. Hailing from Bussum, Netherlands, van der Zalm boasts a 3.875 grade point average while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Her academic dedication has earned her numerous honors, including spots on the Dean's List and recognition as an Academics Before Everything Scholar in both 2025 and 2026. In addition, she was selected to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Division II Academic All-District Team, the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll for 2024 and 2025, and was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma National Scholar-Athlete Honor Society in the spring of 2026.

On the field, van der Zalm has established herself as a vital leader for the Railsplitters throughout her collegiate career. Across 43 games played and 36 starts, she has logged 3,474 total minutes, scoring eight goals and adding one assist for 17 career points. Her 2024 campaign saw her log 1,100 minutes across 12 starts, earning her Third-Team SAC All-Conference and SAC All-Tournament Team selections alongside two SAC Defensive Player of the Week awards. Her standout senior season in 2026 has featured five goals, one assist, 11 points, two game-winning goals, and a perfect one-for-one mark on penalty kicks through nine games and 801 minutes. Her stellar play earned her Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week honors on September 1, 2026, as well as two Juice Spot Railsplitter Player of the Week selections in September 2024 and during the current week.

Beyond her athletic and academic achievements, van der Zalm maintains an active presence in campus leadership and community involvement. She serves as the president of the Coffee Club and is an active member of the campus Psychology Club. Alongside her women's soccer teammates, she regularly contributes community service hours through Splitter Academy, helping train local youth soccer players. In her home country, she volunteers with NL voor elkaar, a Dutch initiative where she assists community members by running errands, driving elderly citizens to appointments, and providing companionship to those in need.