Cheyenne Birkle, a former standout volleyball student-athlete at Peru State College, has been awarded a grant from the Nebraska Greats Foundation. The award recognizes current and former Nebraska college athletes who have demonstrated perseverance, leadership, and continued commitment to their communities while facing medical or financial challenges.
During her time at Peru State, Birkle was a dedicated member of the volleyball program, earning respect from coaches and teammates for her work ethic, competitive spirit, and team-first mindset. As a student-athlete, she balanced the demands of collegiate athletics with academics while representing the program with integrity and pride.
The Nebraska Greats Foundation provides assistance to both current and former student-athletes from any of the 16 colleges and universities in Nebraska who are dealing with medical and financial needs. Birkle’s selection reflects not only her athletic contributions at Peru State but also her resilience and determination off the court.
“I cannot thank the Nebraska Greats Foundation enough for helping me get through one of the toughest years of my life. I’m forever thankful and grateful for their continuous support, generosity, and patience throughout my entire surgery and recovery process. This foundation truly helped eliminate a lot of the stress that comes with dealing with two back-to-back surgeries and I cannot express my appreciation enough.”
-Cheyenne Birkle
