May 22, 2008
ST. LOUIS -
Seven female and five male Illinois State track and field student-athletes have been named to the 2008 Missouri Valley Conference Track and Field Scholar-Athlete teams, as announced by the league office Thursday following the completion of the State Farm MVC Outdoor Track and Field Championships (May16-18 in Carbondale, Ill.).
Senior Devon Williams was a conference champion and all-conference performer in the 100- and 200-meter dashes as well as a member of the 4x100-meter relay, highlighted the women's efforts at the Valley Championships, while also excelling in the classroom. Earning her third scholar-athlete selection the Oswego, Ill., native holds a 3.30 grade point average (GPA) in nursing.
Seniors Anna Lovell (3.43, Speech pathology & audiology), Frannie Epps (3.55, finance) were also recognized as scholar-athletes for a third time, while seniors Suzy Turner (3.78, biological science) and Melissa Clarke (3.38, exercise science) garnered their second scholar-athlete selection. Earning their first scholar-athlete awards were juniors Morgan Schaefer (3.64, nursing) and Megan Thompson (3.11, public relations).
Sophomore Scott Krapf (4.0, recreation and park administration) and senior Kelley Anderson (3.21, criminal justice sciences) garnered their first track and field scholar-athlete recognition, while senior Joe Painter (3.72, biological sciences), Carl Azab (3.32, physical education) and Mike Richardson (3.04, health education) were recognized for a second-straight year.
Illinois State head track and field coach Elvis Forde is proud of the work that his student-athletes demonstrated on the playing field and in their studies.
"It's a great honor for our student-athletes to be recognized with this kind of award," said Forde. "These individuals have shown what it takes to be a true student-athlete by the hard work they display in the classroom and on the track."
Student-athletes must finish in the top-eight of either the Valley indoor track and field championship or the outdoor track and field championship and hold a grade point average above a 3.00 for inclusion on the scholar-athlete team.
