WQIO Ohio's Super Station
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – Mount Vernon Nazarene University alethic department is pleased to announce the inductions of Rachel Fiely (Now Rachel Kerns) and Kemar Jackson into the MVNU Cougar Wall of Fame.
Kerns will be inducted at the halftime of the men’s basketball game on homecoming night against Northwestern Ohio (7:30 p.m. tip-off) on November 14. Jackson is set to be inducted on Saturday, November 15 at halftime of the women’s game against Oakland City (2:00 p.m. tip-off).
Jackson played for the men’s soccer team from 2007 to 2010 as a defender, from Kingston, Jamaica. Over his collegiate career, he appeared in 91 games, recording 19 goals and 7 assists for a total of 45 points. Defensively, he was a standout in the backfield, finishing with 120 career saves.
Jackson’s decorated career began with numerous honors. In 2008, he earned American Mideast Conference Honorable Mention and was named to the OCSA Academic All-Ohio First Team. During his junior season, he was selected to the American Mideast Conference First Team, received NAIA Honorable Mention All-American, NCCAA All-American Second Team, NSCAA All-American Third Team, and was also recognized on the American Mideast Conference All-Academic Team. In his senior year (2010), Jackson capped off his career with a remarkable list of accolades, including First-Knox Cougar Invitational Most Valuable Offensive Player, American Mideast Conference Team, NCCAA East Region Co-Player of the Year, NAIA All-American Second Team, ESPN Academic All-District, and the team’s Most Valuable Player in 2012.
“Kemar’s energy and love for others has always been contagious,” said Director of Athletics, Chip Wilson. “He naturally draws people together and has a gift for bringing joy to a room. He continues to use soccer as a platform to serve people; now coaching collegiately. We are thankful to have the opportunity to welcome him to the 2025 MVNU Wall Of Fame class.”
Kerns, a standout on the women’s basketball team from 2005 to 2009, left a lasting mark on the program by setting numerous records. She holds the program record for career assists with 654, as well as the single season record with 249. In her senior year, she also tied the program record for most assists in a single game with 14. Defensively, Kerns is the program’s all-time leader in career steals with 335. Her durability was unmatched, as she played in a record 123 consecutive games and started in 122 of them, also the program best. Offensively, Kerns ranks sixth in career points with 1,551 and tenth in field goals made with 470. At the free-throw line, she sank 418 shots, placing her fourth in school history, and she also ranks fifth all-time in three-pointers made with 193.
Kerns wasn’t just known for breaking records on the court; she was also consistently recognized for her outstanding performance. As a freshman in 2005, she was named the Cougars’ Sports Freshman of the Year and earned a spot on the NCCAA East Region Second Team. In her sophomore year, she received AMC South Division Honorable Mention and repeated her place on the NCCAA East Region Second Team. By her junior year in 2007, she had become the 19th player in school history to score 1,000 career points and was honored as an NCCAA Honorable Mention All-American and selected for the NCCAA East Region First Team. She capped off her stellar college career in her senior season by being named the NCCAA East Region Player of the Year, earning spots on the NCCAA All-American First Team and the American Mideast Conference First Team, and receiving the prestigious NCCAA Kathy Freese National Player of the Year award.
“It is no surprise that Rachel is the career assists leader for our women’s basketball program,” said Wilson. “She had a reputation for being a great teammate and serving others during her time at MVNU. She continues to serve students now in her career in teaching, and we are proud to call her an MVNU alum. We are excited to now call her an MVNU Wall Of Fame inductee.”
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education both in-seat and online to nearly 2,200 students from 36 states, 1 U.S. commonwealth and 41 foreign countries.
