Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference

Stephanie (Hengel) Popelar was a three-sport athlete at Northern State University from 1985-89. She excelled in basketball, cross country and track & field before she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. in Business Administration.
In cross country and track & field, Hengel was a four-year All-District performer, a four-year all-conference selection and combined to compete at Nationals seven times. She was the 1988 conference and district champion in cross country and was a two-time NAIA Academic All-American. Hengel set the NSU record in the 5,000 meter run in 1987 with a time of 17:33.
On the basketball court, Hengel was a three year starter and was part of the 1987-88 Northern Sun Conference Championship team that went 11-1 in NSC play.
After her senior season, Hengel was awarded the Hildred Wolfe Outstanding Athlete Award, which is giving annually to the top senior women’s athlete at Northern State University.
In 2002 Northern State University inducted Stephanie into their Hall of Fame and in 2009 Aberdeen High School did the same.
Following her career at Northern State, Stephanie has volunteered for multiple committees and foundations. She is also an accomplished tri-athlete, as she competes six to nine times a year. At the Triathlon World Championships in 2006, she placed third for females age 35 to 39 and placed first among all U.S. women. She is currently employed as a Senior Legal Analyst at Western Union. Stephanie and her husband Greg reside in Lakewood, Colorado.