Beth Keller

Beth Keller (Elizabeth Ann Keller, born in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 25, 1978) is an American soccer player who last played for the Carolina Courage in the Women's United Soccer Association.

Soccer career

High School career

Beth was a USA Today: Top 25 Recruit in the Nation in 1996. She was the only female soccer player on the men’s varsity soccer team at Hilton Head Island High School in South Carolina from 7th-12th grade and selected to Parade Magazine's All-American Girls Soccer Team in 1996.^[1][2] She was inducted to Hilton Head High School Hall of Fame's inaugural class and recognized as South Carolina's State Player of the Year in 1995 and 1996.

College career

Beth Keller, also known as "BK": was a triple threat at Clemson University as a standout women’s soccer player, all-star academic achiever, and committed, community volunteer from 1996-2000. BK was the first player from South Carolina to be actively recruited, start, and play for the lady Tigers in 1996. Her leadership while at Clemson clearly demonstrates a commitment to the core values she learned as a student-athlete: Family, Innovation, Growth, and Excellence. BK’s leadership as a standout athlete is demonstrated in the Clemson record books. She is ranked 5th in career points and goals. She is listed in sections for Season Bests, Single Season Bests and Single Match Bests for: Most Goals, Most Assists, Most Points, Most Goals in a Half, All Time Hat Tricks, Shortest Time between Goals. She also appears in Class/Yearly, Career, and Team records. BK holds ACC Tournament records for Most Goals in a Game, Tournament, and Career. Additional highlights include:

• Soccer Buzz All-American: 3rd Team 1999 and Honorable Mention 1998
• Soccer Buzz Southeast Region Team: 1st team 1999 and 2nd team 1997 & 1998 Team
• National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA): All American in 1998, Honorable Mention
• Soccer America Team of the Week on 11/10/98 and 11/9/99
• All-Atlantic Coast Conference Team: 1st team 1999 and 2nd team 1998 & 1996
• All-Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Team in 1998
• NSCAA – All-Southeast Region Team: 1st team 1999 &1996 and 2nd Team 1998
• Atlantic Coast Conference Anniversary Team (exclusive group of only 50 players)
• Clemson Strength & Conditioning Excellence Award 1998

Professional career

She also represented Clemson while playing for the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) in 1998 and 1999.^[3] She is the ONLY lady Tiger to have both, one full cap and a goal when she played for the USWNT (against Finland in 1999). She also traveled with the US U-21 team while at Clemson and helped the US win the 1999 Nordic Cup in Iceland.^[4][5] She continued to represent the US team internationally against Germany, Mexico, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Denmark and throughout major cities in the US. She played for the Chicago Cobras and was invited to the inaugural Women's United Soccer Association combine^[6] She was drafted to the Philadelphia Charge^[7][8] and later played for the Carolina Courage^[9] from 2001-2002.

Academic and community life

She was an All-ACC Academic Honor Roll student in 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000. She further demonstrated her commitment to academic excellence as a double-major in History and Political Science, while also minoring in Spanish – she took 19–22 hours per semester (always attended summer school each year). She spent one summer semester abroad living in Mexico. BK was selected for the Weaver-James Corrigan post graduate scholarship in 2000, and attended the University of Utah where she received her Master of Public Administration. She was selected as the “Atlantic Coast Conference Top 6 for Service” 2x in 1998 & 1999, which recognizes only 6 outstanding student athlete volunteers in the entire conference. She was a member of the Lutheran Campus ministry and spent two spring breaks working with the Clemson University’s Habitat for Humanity Chapter building houses during their annual “Alternative Spring Break Trips.” She also volunteered by building a house each year on Bowman Field during Homecoming week. In addition, she worked with Special Olympics and volunteered at many of the Clemson Women Soccer Camps each summer.

Executive nonprofit career

BK received her Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Utah. She became a Certified Fund Raising Executive(CFRE) and has continued to embody excellence in her professional career today. After receiving her MPA, she began a fundraising career in the NGO sector. Over the last 15 years, she has raised more than $25 million for various local, national, and international nonprofit organizations’ missions. She is currently the Senior Development Officer at Habitat for Humanity International, perfectly appropriate, as the love for this mission is deeply rooted in her days at Clemson. She continues to support IPTAY, the Atlanta Clemson Young Alumni Association, and Clemson Alumni Association as much as possible. She has been a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta and sits on several Boards for international and local charities.

References