July 27, 2015
2015 GNAC FAR Scholar-Athletes 
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Eight Western Washington University student-athletes were named recipients of Great Northwest Athletic Conference Faculty Athletics Representative's Scholar-Athletes awards for 2014-15 announced by the conference office on Monday, July 27.
The award, which began in 2012, is presented annually and honors the most outstanding scholar-athletes at each of the GNAC's 11 universities. To qualify, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.85 (4.0 scale).
WWU student-athletes honored were freshman men's track and field sprinter Alex Binkerd (Redmond), Computer Science Pre-Major, 3.96; junior women's track and field javelin thrower Bethany Drake (Sandy, OR), Art, 3.87; junior women's track and field and cross country runner Taylor Guenther (Vancouver/Prairie), Communication Sciences & Disorders, 3.88; sophomore women's track and field and cross country runner Maddy Jalbert (Niwot, CO), Biochemistry, 3.94; sophomore women's track and field jumper Jasmine McMullin (Sequim), English Literature, 3.91; freshman women's rower Karisa Stapp (Bellingham/Mount Baker), Accounting, 3.88; senior men's soccer forward Matt Temple (Beaverton, OR), Manufacturing Engineering Technology, 3.88; and sophomore women's track and field and cross country runner Shawna Troupe (Kelso), Kinesiology, 3.90.
It is the third honor for Jalbert and the second for McMullin and Troupe.
Dr. Bruce Larson is beginning the third of his three-year term as the WWU FAR.
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 Academic Award winners
Alex Binkerd (Men's Track & Field, Computer Science Pre-Major, Fr., 3.96, Redmond, WA/Redmond HS)
Bethany Drake (Women's Track & Field, Art, Jr., 3.87, Sandy, OR/Sandy HS)
Taylor Guenther (Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, Communication Sciences & Disorders, Jr., 3.88, Vancouver, WA/Prairie HS)
***Maddy Jalbert (Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, Biochemistry, 3.94, Jr., Niwot, CO/Niwot HS)
**Jasmine McMullin (Women's Track & Field, English Literature, So., 3.91, Sequim, WA/Sequim HS)
Karisa Stapp (Women's Rowing, Accounting, Fr., 3.88, Bellingham, WA/Mount Baker HS)
Matt Temple (Men's Soccer, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Sr., 3.88, Beaverton, OR/Beaverton HS)
**Shawna Troupe (Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, Kinesiology, So., 3.90, Kelso, WA/Kelso HS)
