In conjunction with the St. Jude Medical Foundation and the University of Minnesota CHAMPS/Life Skills Office, the two joined together and visited the Maplewood Middle School on Monday, March 30, 2009. St. Jude strives to make life better for future generations and the Gopher student-athletes were there to promote a healthy lifestyle and pursue an education, particularly in math and science, through their program, Exercise Your Heart and Mind.

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending March 27th is Cat Parkhill from the women’s soccer team.

Soccer coach Mikki Denney Wright is proud of Cat’s academic achievements.

“Cat’s determination and commitment in the classroom is an example for all student athletes to follow,” Denney Wright said. “Cat is constantly seeking out greatness in every endeavor and she is motivated to be the very best both on the field and in the classroom.”

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending March 6th is Brandon Kirksey from the football team.

Associate Head Coach Tim Cross is thrilled to see Brandon earn this honor.

“Brandon has approached his school work the same way he plays football-- with toughness, effort and perseverance! He is an outstanding young man who displays the compassion and caring heart that we all need and combines that with a fierce sense of pride and loyalty that will serve him well on and off the field,” Cross said. “Brandon has faced adversity many times and never blinked or backed down. He is the type of young man who represents his team, his family and his university in a way that should be commended. I could not be more proud of what he's done so far and I'm very excited knowing this is only the beginning of what he's capable of accomplishing.”

The University of Minnesota Athletic Department, in conjunction with the Office for Equity and Diversity, will host the third annual Black History Month “Celebrating our Rich Minnesota Heritage.” The event will be Tuesday, February 24th at 10:30 a.m. at the Sports Pavilion. Scheduled speakers for the event include Men’s Head Basketball Coach Tubby Smith, Men’s Head Hockey Coach Don Lucia, and Women’s Head Basketball Coach Pam Borton. Awards to the winners of an essay contest about prominent Black men and women in Minnesota will be presented at the event.

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending February 13th is Zoe Harper from the women’s basketball team.

Women’s basketball coach Pam Borton is happy to see Zoe earn recognition for her academics.

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The first ever joint winners of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending February 6th are Ana Balboa from women’s gymnastics and Michele Edlin from women’s golf.

Academic Counselor Chelsie Schafer nominated both students because of the way they have worked together to achieve academic success.

“Ana and Michele study with tutors together, they share notes when one is absent for team travel and they keep each other motivated,” Schafer said. “They are both driven to succeed. Their dedication to academic success and commitment to helping support each other is something that all of our student-athletes could emulate.”

Women’s golf coach Kris Wessinger is very excited to have Michele selected as a McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week.

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Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending December 5th is Justin Gominsky from the baseball team.

Head Coach John Anderson has been pleasantly surprised by Gominksy’s academic effort this semester.

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending November 21st is Travis Busch from the men’s basketball team.

Head Coach Tubby Smith is very excited to have Busch honored as the McNamara Student-Athlete of the week.