FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Evan O’Kelly Director of Communications O: (406) 657-2130 E: evan.okelly@msubillings.edu Monday, July 27, 2015 19 Yellowjackets earn GNAC FAR Scholar-Athlete Award
Thirteen women and six men from MSUB are among 156 FAR Scholar-Athlete award winners across the GNAC for the 2014-15 academic year, including four-time winner Annie DePuydt (above). PORTLAND, Ore. – Nineteen total student-athletes from Montana State University Billings have earned the Faculty Athletic Representative Scholar-Athlete Award from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced by the conference office on Monday. “We are proud of our student-athletes who have set a standard for all of their peers not only here at MSUB but across the conference,” commented Yellowjacket athletic director Krista Montague. “One of the core principles of our department is academic success, and the recipients of this distinguished award serve as role models for our Yellowjacket Athletics and our entire university.” Among MSUB’s award winners were a trio of four-time selections, as MSUB women’s basketball player Annie DePuydt, women’s cross country runner Renae Hepfner, and women’s tennis player Emily Paffhausen each received the honor all four years of their collegiate careers. The three women were among 21 total in the conference to receive the award four consecutive years, and 156 award winners overall.
Women’s soccer player Sami Hansen and women’s cross country runner Jinise Osborne each received the award for the third time. Kasie Christensen (women’s basketball), Dana Lubieniecki (women’s soccer), Brett Christina and Drew Christina (baseball), and Donald Hamm (men’s track & field), were all repeat selections for the Yellowjackets. The Christinas, along with fellow baseball player Jake Campeau and DePuydt, were among 30 total student-athletes in the GNAC to hold perfect 4.00 GPAs. Among GNAC schools, MSUB had the third-most student-athletes win the award, with Alaska Anchorage (24), and Northwest Nazarene (20), being the only schools with more than MSUB’s 19. Athletes from nine different Yellowjacket teams were honored with the academic award. The award is presented annually to student-athletes at each of the GNAC’s schools who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.85 or higher. All student-athletes listed on any roster in the conference, including redshirts and regardless of sport, are eligible for the award. A faculty athletic representative (FAR) is a member of the faculty at an NCAA member institution who has been designated to serve as a liaison between the institution’s faculty and athletic department. The FAR serves as a representative of the institution in conference and NCAA affairs. MSUB’s FAR is Dr. Scott Harris, professor of economics. 2014-15 GNAC FAR Scholar-Athlete Award Winners - Montana State University Billings Women Madi Barber (Soccer, General Studies, Fr., 3.85, Cheyenne, Wyo.) *Kasie Christensen (Basketball, Health/Human Performance, Fr., 3.91, Billings, Mont.) ***Annie DePuydt (Basketball, Business – Management, Sr., 4.00, Saco, Mont.) Bailee Dexter (Golf, Health/Human Performance, Fr., 3.89, Townsend, Mont.) Nocona Frame (Cross Country/Track and Field, History, Sr., 3.90, Glendive, Mont.) **Sami Hansen (Soccer, Health/Human Performance, Sr., 3.90, Boise, Idaho) Hali Henwood (Soccer, English, Sr., 3.85, Douglas, Wyo.) ***Renae Hepfner (Cross Country, Biology, Sr., 3.95, Belt, Mont.) Corrie Holm (Track and Field, Health/Human Performance, Sr., 3.85, Billings, Mont.) Kari Kastelic (Soccer, Business – Finance, So., 3.87, Phoenix, Ariz.) *Dana Lubieniecki (Soccer, Health/Human Performance, So., 3.87, Lakewood, Colo.) **Jinise Osborne (Cross County/Track & Field, Health/Human Performance, Sr., 3.99, Columbia Falls, Mont.) ***Emily Paffhausen (Tennis, English, Sr., 3.93, Dillon, Mont.) Men Jake Campeau (Baseball, Health/Human Performance, Sr., 4.00, Walla Walla, Wash.) *Brett Christina (Baseball, History, Jr., 4.00, Walla Walla, Wash.) *Drew Christina (Baseball, Chemistry, Jr., 4.00, Walla Walla, Wash.) *Donald Hamm (Track and Field, Health/Human Performance, So., 3.86, Power, Mont.) Colby Henderson (Basketball, Health/Human Performance, So., 3.88, Hamilton, Mont.) Wyatt Schlosser (Baseball, Health/Human Performance, Fr., 3.90, Saskatoon, Sask.) *-Two-time selection **-Three-time selection ***-Four-time selection Full list of conference FAR Scholar-Athletes for 2014-15 at www.gnacsports.com. --@MSUBSports | #JacketNation--