Sept. 8, 2008

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Twenty Western Washington University student-athletes have been named recipients of the 2007-08 Division II Athletics Directors Association Academic Achievement Award presented by WeatherPORT.

The Vikings honored were Gina Auriemma (Jr., Women's Rowing, Lake Forest Park/Shorecrest), Jenny Barton (So., Women's Soccer, Boise, ID/Borah), Shanley Besett (Jr., Volleyball, University Place/Curtis), Kyle Broadbent (Sr., Women's Soccer, Spokane/Lewis & Clark), Gail Butler (Jr., Women's Track & Field, Issaquah), Audrey Coon (Jr., Women's Rowing, Kenai, AK/Kenai Central), Heidi Dimmitt (Jr., Women's Track & Field, Wenatchee), Madeleine Eckmann (So., Women's Rowing, Winthrop/Liberty Bell), Amanda Font (Sr., Women's Soccer, Federal Way/Decatur), Alexander Harrison (So., Men's Track & Field, Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway), Greg Kubitz (Sr., Men's Track & Field, Kelso), Keith Lemay (Sr., Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Lynden/Lynden Christian), Kathryn Martens (Jr., Volleyball, Olympia), Tommy Race (Jr., Men's Track & Field, Chelan), Tiana Roma (Jr., Volleyball, Edmonds/Edmonds/Woodway), Calin Schell (Jr., Men's Basketball, Chelan), Courtney Schneider (Sr., Volleyball, Snohomish), Daniell Slaughter (So., Women's Cross Country, Spokane/Shadle Park), Miranda Steward (So., Women's Rowing, Kenmore/Inglemoor) and Anthony Zackery (So., Football, Spokane/Ferris).

The DII ADA Academic Achievement Awards is a program that recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level.

To receive the honor, a student-athlete must have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, have completed a minimum of two years (six quarters) of college level work, and been an active member of an intercollegiate team during his/her last academic year.