July 19, 2012
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Fifteen Western Washington University student-athletes were among those named as the first recipients of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Faculty Athletics Representative's Scholar-Athletes award.
The award will be presented annually and honors the most outstanding scholar-athletes at each of the GNAC's 10 universities. To qualify, a student-athlete must have a grade point average of at least 3.85 (4.0 scale).
WWU student-athletes honored were Emily Boerger (Marysville-Pilchuck), Eric Brill (Kent/Kentwood), Sydney Coffey (Boulder, CO/Niwot), Damien Fisher (Fife), Alex Harrison (Edmonds/Edmonds-Woodway), Phoebe Hartnett (San Diego, CA/Patrick Henry), Chip Jackson (Seattle/Shorewood), Bailey Jones (Mukilteo/Kamiak), Miranda Lahman (Boulder, CA/Niwot), Justin Marshall (Lake Stevens), Megan Northey (Brier/King's), Callie Reff (Burlington/Burlington-Edison), Trevor Robinson (Seattle/Nathan Hale), Mary Rogers (Spokane/Shadle Park) and Annie Schinnell (Morton).
"It is with great pride we salute these accomplished student-athletes who comprise the first class of recipients of this new conference award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in the classroom," said GNAC commissioner Dave Haglund.
"The idea for this award originated with our conference faculty athletic representatives, who believed it was important to publicly recognize the many student-athletes across the GNAC who have distinguished themselves academically.
"The number of individuals who have met this high standard is reflective of the NCAA Division II philosophy which emphasizes balance between academics and athletics."
Dr. Brent Carbajal, who is the FAR at Western Washington University and is also the chair of the GNAC Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) committee, said the award serves as fitting tribute to the impressive academic work done at the very highest level of scholarly accomplishment.
"To realize this caliber of classroom performance while maintaining the competitive edge required for participation in intercollegiate athletics is a huge accomplishment, one clearly deserving of special recognition from the Faculty Athletics Representatives and the conference in general," Carbajal added.
A FAR is a member of the faculty at a NCAA member institution who has been designated to serve as a liaison between the institution and the athletic department. The FAR serves as a representative of the institution in conference and NCAA affairs.
The role of the FAR is "to ensure that the academic institution establishes and maintains the appropriate balance between academics and intercollegiate athletics."
Western Washington University - GNAC FAR Scholar-Athlete Award Winners
Men
Eric Brill, Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, English and Secondary Education, Grad., 3.90, Kent, WA (Kentwood)
Damien Fisher, Men's Basketball, Kinesiology, Jr., 3.89, Fife, WA
Alex Harrison, Men's Track & Field, Kinesiology, Grad., 3.89, Edmonds, WA (Edmonds-Woodway)
Chip Jackson, Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Mathematics, Jr., 3.93, Seattle, WA (Shorewood)
Justin Marshall, Men's Cross Country, Kinesiology, Jr., 3.89, Lake Stevens, WA
Trevor Robinson, Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Environmental Studies, So., 3.98, Seattle, WA (Nathan Hale)
Women
Emily Boerger, Volleyball, Anthropology, So., 3.86, Marysville, WA (Marysville-Pilchuck)
Sydney Coffey, Track & Field, Behavioral Neuroscience, So., 3.86, Boulder, Colo. (Niwot)
Phoebe Hartnett, Cross Country, Special Education, Jr., 3.89, San Diego, CA (Patrick Henry)
Bailey Jones, Volleyball, Industrial Design, Jr., 3.86, Mukilteo, WA (Kamiak)
Miranda Lahman, Cross Country and Track & Field, Biology, So., 3.94, Boulder, CO (Niwot)
Megan Northey, Rowing, Kinesiology, Sr., 3.91, Brier, WA (King's)
Callie Reff, Track & Field, Human Services, Jr., 3.85, Burlington, WA (Burlington-Edison)
Mary Rogers,Cross Country and Track & Field, Spanish, Jr., 3.86, Spokane, WA (Shadle Park)
Annie Schinnell, Track & Field, Environmental Studies, So, 3.87, Morton, WA
GREAT NORTHWEST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE Contact: Bob Guptill (503-305-8756/Fax 503-908-0401/e-mail - bguptill@gnacsports.com)
One Hundred Forty Earn GNAC FAR Scholar-Athlete Award
PORTLAND, Ore. - A total of 140 Great Northwest Athletic Conference student-athletes, including 90 women and 50 men, are the first recipients of the GNAC's Faculty Athletic Representative's Scholar-Athlete award.
The award will be presented annually and will honor the most outstanding scholar-athletes at each of the GNAC's 10 universities.
To qualify for the award, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.85. All student-athletes listed on any GNAC squad list, regardless of whether the sport is an officially recognized sport by the GNAC, are eligible for the prestigious award.
Eleven of the student-athletes selected to receive the award this year have perfect 4.0 grade point averages including seven women -- Anna Berecz (skiing); Bryn Haebe (track and field) and Christi Schmitz (nursing), all of the University of Alaska Anchorage; Jordyn Montgomery (volleyball) of the University of Alaska Fairbanks; Annie DePuydt (basketball) of Montana State University Billings; Nysa Allen (volleyball) of Saint Martin's University; and Suzanna Ohlsen (basketball) of Seattle Pacific University.
Four men also have perfect 4.0 GPAs - track and field athlete Brandon Brewster and skier Lutz Klausmann of Alaska Anchorage; Ryan Anderson, who competes on the rifle team at the University of Alaska Fairbanks; and Saint Martin's University track and field and cross country athlete Joseph Berger.
Six Simon Fraser athletes also earned GPAs of 4.0 or better in the Canadian system, which awards 4.33 points for an A plus, led by cross country and track and field athlete Madeline Barker who has a 4.16 GPA and basketball player Zachary Frehlick, who graduated with a 4.14 GPA.
"It is with great pride we salute these accomplished student-athletes who comprise the first class of recipients of this new conference award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in the classroom," said GNAC commissioner Dave Haglund.
"The idea for this award originated with our conference faculty athletic representatives, who believed it was important to publicly recognize the many student-athletes across the GNAC who have distinguished themselves academically.
"The number of individuals who have met this high standard is reflective of the NCAA Division II philosophy which emphasizes balance between academics and athletics."
Dr. Brent Carbajal, who is the FAR at Western Washington University and is also the chair of the GNAC Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) committee, said the award serves as a fitting tribute to the impressive academic work done at the very highest level of scholarly accomplishment.
"To realize this caliber of classroom performance while maintaining the competitive edge required for participation in intercollegiate athletics is a huge accomplishment, one clearly deserving of special recognition from the Faculty Athletics Representatives and the conference in general," Carbajal added.
A FAR is a member of the faculty at an NCAA member institution who has been designated to serve as a liaison between the institution and the athletic department. The FAR serves as a representative of the institution in conference and NCAA affairs.
The role of the FAR is "to ensure that the academic institution establishes and maintains the appropriate balance between academics and intercollegiate athletics."
This year's FAR honorees include:
Men
Alaska AnchorageBrandon Brewster (Track and Field, Management, Fr., 4.00, Anchorage, AK)Lutz Klausmann (Skiing, Undeclared, Fr., 4.00, Furtwangen, Germany)Dusan Sidor (Hockey, Management, Gr., 3.88, Poprad, Slovakia)Sean Alexander (Hockey, Management, Fr., 3.87, Calgary, AB)
Alaska FairbanksRyan Anderson (Rifle, Biological Sciences, Fr., 4.00, Great Falls, VA)Sean Cahill (Ice Hockey, Economics, Fr., 3.95, Calgary, AB)Alex Morris (Skiing, Electrical Engineering, Sr., 3.95, Anchorage, AK)Erik Soderstrom (Cross Country/Skiing,, B.S. - Geography, Sr., 3.93, As, Sweden)Mats Eriksson (Rifle, Journalism, Fr., 3.93, Malung, Sweden)Ludwig Schott (Cross Country/Skiing, Business Administration, Fr., 3.87, Furtwagen, Germany)Adam Henderson (Ice Hockey, Business Administration, Sr., 3.86, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory)Ross MacDougall (Cross Country, Foreign Language, Jr., 3.86, Astoria, OR)Steve Thompson (Ice Hockey, Psychology, Jr., 3.85, Anchorage, AK)
Central WashingtonColin Walsh (Football, Undeclared, Fr., 3.97, Troutdale, OR)Nathan Minor (Track and Field, Math/Physics, So., 3.94, Mount Vernon, WA)Derrick Webb (Baseball, Clinical Physiology, Sr., 3.86, Ephrata, WA)
Montana State BillingsAdam Prevost (Track & Field, HHP, Jr., 3.93, Billings, MT)Mark Eric Gravbot (Golf, Communications, Fr., 3.93, Yakima, WA)Orrin Pyrah (Baseball, Business, Jr., 3.92, Lewistown, MT)Lewis Polkow (Track & Field, HHP, So., 3.87 Billings, MT)Thomas Staffileno (Tennis, Business, So, 3.86, Billings, MT)
Northwest NazareneStephen Larlee (Track & Field, Nursing, So., 3.97, Maupin, OR)Nathan Forseth (Baseball, Global Business, Fr., 3.95, Nampa, ID)Reid White (Track & Field, Secondary Education, Jr., 3.95, Deer Park, WA)Stephen Marshall (Soccer, Recreation Sports Management, Jr., 3.93, Palm Springs, CA)Matt Silva (Track & Field, Philosophy, Fr., 3.93, Nampa, ID)Andrew Curtis (Track & Field, Mass Communications, So., 3.88, Tigard, OR)William Caldwell (Soccer, Business Administration, So., 3.86, Enumclaw, WA)Ben Heidegger (Track & Field, Mass Communications, Sr., 3.85, Nampa, ID)Reid White (Track & Field, Secondary Education, Jr., 3.95, Deer Park, WA)
Saint Martin'sJoseph Berger (Cross Country & Track and Field, Mechanical Engineering, So., 4.00, Enumclaw, WA)Alex Nelson (Cross Country & Track and Field, Biology, Fr., 3.97, Renton, WA)Kaleb Wilson (Baseball, Sociology, Sr., 3.92, Lacey, WA)Brok Pendleton (Basketball, Business Administration, Sr., 3.85, Auburn, WA)
Seattle PacificPhillip Mach (Rowing, Business Administration, Jr., 3.92, Seattle, WA)Blaine Carver (Soccer, Business Administration, So., 3.91, Soldotna, AK)Liviu Bird (Soccer, Communications, Sr., 3.90, Fairbanks, AK)Riley Stockton (Basketball, Business Administration, Fr., 3.89, Spokane, WA)
Simon FraserZachary Frehlick (Basketball, Engineering Science, Sr., 4.14, Kelowna, BC)Martin Palibroda (Cross Country/Track & Field, Engineering Science, Fr., 4.04, Fort St. John, BC)Jarrett Lum (Wrestling, Kinesiology, Sr., 4.04, Port Moody, BC)James Young (Cross Country/Track & Field, Biomedical Physiology, Jr., 3.89, Surrey, BC)
Western OregonCarraig Colahan (Track and Field, Criminal Justice, So., 3.92, Burns, OR)Brian Walton (Football, Criminal Justice, Sr., 3.88, Fruitland, ID)
Western WashingtonTrevor Robinson (Cross Country/Track & Field, Environmental Studies, So., 3.98, Seattle, WA)Chip Jackson (Cross Country/Track & Field, Mathematics, Jr., 3.93, Seattle, WA)Eric Brill (Cross Country /Track & Field, English and Secondary Education, Grad., 3.90, Kent, WA)Damien Fisher (Basketball, Kinesiology, Jr., 3.89, Fife, WA)Alex Harrison (Track & Field, Kinesiology, Grad., 3.89, Edmonds, WA)Justin Marshall (Cross Country, Kinesiology, Jr., 3.89, Lake Stevens, WA)
Women
Alaska AnchorageAnna Berecz (Skiing, Psychology, Fr., 4.00, Budapest, Hungary)Bryn Haebe (Track & Field, Nursing, Fr., 4.00, Evergreen, CO)Christi Schmitz (Track & Field, Nursing, So., 4.00, North Pole, AK)Jaime Bronga (Skiing, Engineering, Sr., 3.99, Anchorage, AK)Alexandra Parker (Skiing, Psychology, Sr., 3.97, Calgary, AB)Ida Bjerka (Skiing, Environment & Society, Jr., 3.93, Tromsoe, Norway)Emily Petersen (Gymnastics, Biological Sciences, So., 3.90, Indianapolis, IN)Gaynor Johansen (Track & Field, Undeclared, So., 3.89, Palmer, AK)Laura Rombach (Skiing, Management, Sr., 3.89, Neukirch, Germany)Katelynn Richens (Basketball, Undeclared, Fr., 3.88, Roosevelt, UT)
Alaska FairbanksJordyn Montgomery (Volleyball, Psychology, Sr., 4.00, Topeka, KS)Rebecca Martin (Volleyball, Accounting, Fr., 3.96, Cochrane, AB)Megan Thompson (Cross Country, Music Education, Jr., 3.93, Fairbanks, AK)Marit Rjabov (Cross Country/Skiing, Psychology, Jr., 3.92, Voru, Estonia)Nicole Bozek (Basketball, MBA, 3.90, Gr., Mukilteo, WA)Alyson McPhetres (Cross Country/Skiing, Civil Engineering, So., 3.90, Chugiak, AK)Danielle Lyons (Swimming, Biological Sciences, Fr., 3.90, Prince Albert, SK)Sarah Meierotto (Swimming, Biological Sciences, Jr., 3.90. North Pole, AK)
Central WashingtonKatharine Lotze (Track & Field, Journalism & Spanish, Sr., 3.99, Benton City, WA)Olivia Rethwill (Basketball, Undeclared, Fr., 3.97, Olympia, WA)Constance Morgan (Track & Field, Economics, So., 3.97, Hoquiam, WA)Hadli Farrand (Soccer, Undeclared, Fr., 3.96, Ellensburg, WA)Carlee Marble (Volleyball, Athletic Administration, Gr., 3.96, La Conner, WA)Hannah Swigart (Track & Field, Exercise Science, Jr., , 3.95, Goldendale, WA)Seanna Pitassi (Track & Field, Public Health, So., 3.91, Camas, WA)Jessica VanDyke (Basketball, Clinical Physiology, So., 3.90, Chester, MT)Kindra Scobba (Soccer, Undeclared, Fr., 3.88, Vancouver, WA)
Montana State BillingsAnnie DePuydt (Basketball, Business, Fr., 4.00, Saco, MT)Kayla Neumiller (Volleyball, Education, So., 3.97, Colstrip, MT)Emily Paffhausen (Tennis, Business, Fr., 3.97, Dillon, MT)Taylor Adams (Volleyball, HHP, So., 3.95, Anchorage, AK)Kaylee Kimmet (Soccer, Education, Fr., 3.95, Billings, MT)Renae Hepfner (Cross Country/Track & Field, Biology, Fr., 3.94, Belt, MT)Cayley Fish (Golf, Biology, Fr., 3.93, Great Falls, MT)Jennifer Larsen (Soccer, Education, Jr., 3.92, Mesa, AZ)Lisa Dallapiazza (Soccer, Sociology, Fr., 3.91, Florence, MT)Kristen Kastelic (Soccer, Business, Jr., 3.90, Phoenix, AZ)Cady Irion (Track & Field, Business, Sr., 3.87, Miles City, MT)
Northwest NazareneJennifer Field (Soccer, Biology, Jr., 3.99, Nampa, ID)Laura Pridgen (Track and Field, Elementary Education, Jr., 3.98, Nampa, ID)Melissa Colby (Track, Secondary Education, So., 3.98, Nampa, ID)Sarah Staropoli (Soccer, Pre-Physical Therapy, Jr., 3.96, Beaverton, OR)Kailey Trautmann (Volleyball, Biology, Sr., 3.94, Nampa, ID)Heather Adams (Basketball, Biology, Jr., 3.92, Boise, ID)Brittany Osnower (Soccer, Psychology, Fr., 3.92, Meridian, ID)Kira Varady (Softball, Nursing, Fr., 3.92, Bremerton, WA)Courtney Schroeder (Track and Field, Elementary Education, Fr., 3.92, Caldwell, ID)Melissa Grammer (Social Work, Jr., 3.88, Valdez, AK)Caitlin Curtis (Track & Field, Recreation Sports, So., 3.86, Portland, OR)Morgan Wiedmeier (Track and Field, Pre-Physical Therapy, So., 3.85, Meridian, ID)Laticia Lehman (Volleyball, Marketing, Sr., 3.85, Caldwell, ID)Sarah Blum (Soccer, Undecided, Fr., 3.85, Troy, ID)
Saint Martin'sNysa Allen (Volleyball, Mathematics, Fr., 4.00, Kula, HI)Emily Lashua (Basketball, Education, Sr., 3.98, Vancouver, WA)Hope Allen (Volleyball, Mathematics, Fr., 3.97, Kula, HI)Morgan Klemm (Softball, Business Administration, Sr., 3.96, Everett, WA)Kailah Nettle (Volleyball, Psychology, So., 3.94, Olympia, WA)Kailey Fuegmann (Soccer, Biology, Fr., 3.92, Federal Way, WA)Clarissa Strayer (Soccer, Criminal Justice, Fr., 3.91, Des Moines, WA)Madison Davis (Softball, Psychology, Jr., 3.91, Bothell, WA)Kari Inch (Soccer, Biology, Fr., 3.89, Ephrata, WA)Danielle Eldridge (Soccer, Mechanical Engineering, Fr., 3.85, Spokane, WA)\
Seattle PacificSuzanna Ohlsen (Basketball, Biochemistry, Fr., 4.00, Monroe, WA)Aditi Kulkarni (Gymnastics, Accounting, Sr., 3.97, Lakewood, CO)Katie Thralls (Basketball, Exercise Science, Jr., 3.97, Livermore, CA)Natty Plunkett (Cross Country, Family Therapy, Sr., 3.96, Bellevue, WA)Robyn Zeidler (Cross Country, Independent Studies, So., 3.95, Plymouth, MN)Kelsey Chase (Track & Field, English, Fr., 3.94, Spokane, WA)Katy Gross (Track & Field, Engineering, Jr., 3.93, Everett, WA)Rachel Murphy (Rowing, Physical Science, So., 3.91, DuPont, WA)Shelby Swanson (Volleyball, Physiology, Jr., 3.89, Kennewick, WA)Rachel Murray (Basketball, Psychology, Jr., 3.86, Eglington, Australia)
Simon FraserMadeline Barker (Cross Country/Track & Field, Biomedical Physiology, So., 4.16, Sherbrooke, QUE)Anna Carolsfeld (Basketball, Health Sciences, Sr., 4.04, Victoria, BC)Sidney Morrison (Wrestling, Biomedical Physiology, Jr., 4.03, Ucluelet, BC)Janice Leung (Cross Country/Track & Field, Kinesiology, Fr., 3.95, Vancouver, BC)Whitney Sheehan (Swimming, Kinesiology/Psychology, Jr., 3.90, Grande Prairie, AB)
Western OregonJoEllen DeLeon (Soccer, Humanities, So., 3.89, Gresham, OR)Eryka Brill (Softball, Exercise Science, Jr., 3.93, Dallas, OR)Mary Bailey (Track and Field, Community Health Education, So., 3.98, Grants Pass, OR)
Western WashingtonMiranda Lahman (Cross Country and Track & Field, Biology, So., 3.94, Boulder, CO)Megan Northey (Rowing, Kinesiology, Sr., 3.91, Brier, WA )Phoebe Hartnett (Cross Country, Special Education, Jr., 3.89, San Diego, CA )Annie Schinnell (Track & Field, Environmental Studies, So, 3.87, Morton, WA)Emily Boerger (Volleyball, Anthropology, So., 3.86, Marysville, WA)Sydney Coffey (Track & Field, Behavioral Neuroscience, So., 3.86, Boulder, Colo.)Bailey Jones (Volleyball, Industrial Design, Jr., 3.86, Mukilteo, WA)Mary Rogers (Cross Country and Track & Field, Spanish, Jr., 3.86, Spokane, WA)Yvette Kelp (,Rowing, Kinesiology, Jr., 3.85, Lakewood, WA)Callie Reff (Track & Field, Human Services, Jr., 3.85, Burlington, WA
