Lauren Van Kleunen

Classroom

Van Kleunen earned her undergraduate degree from Marquette in public relations. She has also earned a master’s in communication and a professional certificate in sports leadership. Van Kleunen is currently pursuing a second certificate in leadership.

She is a five-time All-BIG EAST Academic team selection and serves as a tutor in the Eagles Nest Academic Center for other student-athletes.

Character

Van Kleunen has been a model of leadership and character in her time at Marquette. She was selected as the recipient of the 2020-21 BIG EAST Sportsmanship Award, which is voted on by the league’s coaches.

Van Kleunen is also serving as the President of Marquette’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Community

Van Kleunen has made an enormous impact in the Milwaukee area. She has volunteered with the Interchange Food Pantry, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Milwaukee Neighborhood House, and the MU Backpack Program. Van Kleunen has also volunteered with Scouting & Scavenging, an organization that collects unused toiletries to donate to local homeless shelters.

In addition, she has given back to the area’s youth by reading at local schools and participating in several free local basketball clinics.

Competition

Van Kleunen has been one of the Golden Eagles’ top contributors through her career, which spans 126 games. She was named to the All-BIG EAST second team and BIG EAST All-Tournament team last season and now enters her graduate year as a preseason all-conference selection.

She has started 58 of a possible 60 games the past two seasons, and in 2020-21, scored in double-figures in 20 of the team’s 26 games.

Van Kleunen has recorded over 1,000 points (1,034) and nearly 600 rebounds (584) in her career, a feat only accomplished by 14 others in program history. She has helped lead the Golden Eagles to a 94-33 record during her tenure.