ROCK HILL, S.C. - Coker College men's tennis player, Henrik Hellbe, has been named the 2018 South Atlantic Conference Men's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the league announced today. Hellbe is the first Coker student-athlete to win the SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award since Dylan Marks (men's lacrosse) and Dylan Bates (men's track & field) earned the honor in 2015.

The South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the Conference's championship sports, and is voted on by the SAC's Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee. The winners are selected based on their achievements in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

Hellbe, a Marketing and Economics major with a 3.99 grade point average, is a native of Stockholm, Sweden.  During his career at Coker, Hellbe was a two-time ITA Scholar Athlete, a two-time President's List selection and a four-time Dean's List honoree.  He also was given the Department of Business Administration's Outstanding Student Award as a senior.

"I am so happy for Henrik winning the tennis SAC Scholar-Athlete Award," said Coker head tennis coach, Tom Simpson. "To have others recognize his enthusiasm, leadership, and excellence in his academic, athletic, and school activities is very rewarding. He has left a very positive legacy at Coker College and in the South Atlantic Conference."

On the tennis court, Hellbe earned All-SAC First Team honors for his doubles play with partner Mark Watt. The duo recorded an overall record of 12-9 at No. 1 doubles, which included an impressive 7-2 mark in conference play during the 2018 season. 

Extremely active off the court in the community and beyond, Hellbe is a member of the Coker College Enactus team where he received the Service Leadership Award for 100-plus hours of service during both his sophomore and junior years. During his senior year he was awarded the Service Leadership Platinum Award for 500-plus hours of service. As part of Enactus, he helped create project #DonateDala which raised $19,900 over two years in order to help support the people of Myanmar. Thanks to #DonateDala, the Coker Enactus team traveled to Myanmar to build a water system and an aquaponics system providing citizens with fresh water and sustainable food. 

Hellbe also helped create mycampusmarket.org, helping social entrepreneurs digitize their business. He was nominated as the Executive Leader of the Year for Enactus United States. Additionally, Hellbe assisted in leading the Coker Enactus team to a regional championship and will compete in National Exposition in Kansas City, Mo. from May 20-22.

Hellbe is the son of Lisa and Torbjorn Hellbe.