Student-Athlete of the Week

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 on October 30th is Hailey Cowles, from the women’s volleyball team.

Associate Head Coach Scott Swanson remarks on how great of an honor this is for Hailey as well as the gopher volleyball team.

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 on October 16th is Ben Pisani, from the men’s golf team.

Dr. Susanne Jones, Associate Professor in the Communications Studies Department, and supervisor of Ben’s senior paper describes his hard work and dedication 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. For the first time, six students will be honored collectively. The winners for the week ending May 1st, 2009 are Colleen Conway, Katie Dalen, Briana Hassett, Lauren Pockl, Shannon Stemper and Bethany Wolvington from the softball team.

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 April 24th is Brian Peterson from the wrestling team.

Head wrestling coach J Robinson is pleased to see Brian’s hard work be recognized.

“Brian brings all the right things to his approach on his academics. He shows attention to detail, hard work and the ability to understand that what he is investing today will have great dividends later on in his life,” Robinson said. “I am continually amazed at the extra time Brian devotes to his studies to ensure that he is successful academically. He is one of the hardest workers on the team.”

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 April 17th is David Haley from the men’s golf team.

Associate head coach Andrew Tank is glad to see Haley earn recognition for his academics.

“David is a hard worker and deserving of this honor,” Tank said. “We are proud of his accomplishments in the classroom.”

Academic Counselor Chelsie Schafer has been pleased to see David have great success during his freshmen year.

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 April 10th is Jake Annear from the men’s tennis team.

Men’s tennis coach Geoff Young has noticed the time and effort that Annear has put into his academics this semester.

“Jake has been the most academically improved student on team this semester,” Young said. “He has done a good job in all of his classes and he has really shown his dedication to 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 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.”

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.