May 11, 2005
BERKELEY, Calif. -
The University of California saluted its top student-athletes at its annual Student-Athlete Academic Awards Banquet Wednesday at Haas Pavilion.
Student-athletes were invited who have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, earned All-Academic conference, region or national honors, and/or served the community as leaders and mentors.
Here is a brief look at some of the award recipients:
Pac-10 Postgraduate Scholarships
Created to honor outstanding scholar-athletes intending to pursue graduate studies, each institution selects four exceptional graduating seniors who receive $3,000 for their graduate work.
Kelly Anderson, Softball
In addition to standing out as a four-year starting pitcher and receiving numerous athletic honors, Anderson will graduate this spring in legal studies and plans to attend law school next fall.
Patrick Briaud, Men's Tennis
A captain and standout on the men's tennis team, Briaud will graduate this spring with a degree in industrial engineering and operations research but intends to pursue medical school after playing professional tennis next year.
My-Lan Dodd, Women's Gymnastics
One of the top female gymnasts in Cal history, Dodd will graduate this spring with a double major in developmental studies and sociology and a 3.74 GPA. She plans to pursue a graduate degree in sociology either here at Berkeley or the University of Chicago.
Matt Einspahr, Baseball
Captain of the baseball team and a versatile infielder, Einspahr will graduate this spring in sociology. He intends to pursue a career in dentistry, following in his uncle's footsteps.
Oscar Geballe Postgraduate Scholarship
This award, now in its 23rd year, was created through the generosity of Dr. Theodore Geballe to honor his father, Oscar Geballe. This award recognizes Oscar Geballe's devotion to Cal and his strong belief in the value of combining scholarship and intercollegiate athletic competition. Since 1981, the Geballe award has helped over 50 Golden Bears continue their education at the postgraduate level with a $5,000 stipend going to each winner.
Molly Brady, Women's Lacrosse
A tremendously gifted lacrosse player as both a team leader and prolific goal scorer, Brady will graduate this spring with a 3.79 GPA in history. She, like Briaud, will shift gears and pursue medical school. She hopes to work with the organization Doctors without Borders, having already volunteered at a medical clinic in rural Ecuador last summer.
Derek Joyce, Football
A hard-working walk-on football player, Joyce graduated last year in molecular and cell biology and plans to begin his PhD in genetics and neurobiology at UC San Diego this fall.
Lindsey Maclise, Women's Track and Field
A successful member of the women's cross country and track and field teams, Maclise will graduate this spring with a degree in civil engineering and will begin her graduate studies in structural engineering this fall, having been admitted to the top schools nationally, including both Cal and Stanford.
Caleb Rowe, Men's Swimming and Diving
A six-time NCAA All-American and team captain of the men's swimming and diving team, Rowe will graduate this spring with a double major in history and political science. He plans to pursue a joint degree in public policy and law, hoping to make a difference by pursuing public service. Rowe was also one of the select student-athletes nationally to receive a $7,500 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.
The Golden Bear Team Award
The Golden Bear Team Award is given to the varsity team with the highest cumulative grade point average. The average team GPA for Cal's 27 intercollegiate athletic teams is just over 3.0. This year's Golden Bear Team Award goes to Women's Cross Country with a team GPA of 3.28.
Golden Bear Individual Awards
Golden Bear Individual Awards were presented in recognition of outstanding scholastic achievement to the student-athlete in each sport, who after a minimum of two semesters at Cal has the highest cumulative GPA.
Baseball: Danny Campbell
Men's Basketball: Jordi Geli-Villardel
Women's Basketball: Kristin Iwanaga
Men's Crew: David Puder
Women's Crew: Natasha LaBelle
Men's Cross Country: Daniel Blomgren
Women's Cross Country: Brooke Wells
Field Hockey: Briana Harney
Football: Jason Honey
Men's Golf: Michael Wilson
Women's Golf: Eunice Yum
Men's Gymnastics: Graham Ackerman
Women's Gymnastics: My-Lan Dodd
Lacrosse: Molly Brady
Rugby: Colin Walker
Men's Soccer: Marcus Filly
Women's Soccer: Jenny Wendell
Softball: Kelly Anderson
Men's Swimming & Diving: Paul Hernandez
Women's Swimming & Diving: Gina Merlone
Men's Tennis: Daniel Sebescen
Women's Tennis: Jessica Shu
Men's Track & Field: Craig Gallimore
Women's Track & Field: Masha Meyman
Volleyball: Vivian Cheung
Men's Water Polo: Cameron Jones
Women's Water Polo: Daniela DiGiacomo
California Academic Achievement Team Awards
The award recognize the male and female teams that have made the greatest improvement in academic achievement over the past academic year.
This year's women's CAAT Award goes to Women's Gymnastics who are challenging Women's Cross Country for the highest team GPA.
This year's men's CAAT Award goes to football. The football team earned the highest team GPA to date this past academic year. Perhaps even more impressive is that of the 26 players who exhausted their athletic eligibility this past season, 22 are slated to graduate either this spring or summer - an impressive 85% graduation rate. The remaining four are planning to play in the National Football League (NFL).
Jake Gimbel and Anna Espenschade Awards
The awards were established in the 1930's and 1987, respectively, to recognize a graduating male and female student-athlete for successful integration of academic and athletic pursuits. The winners of these awards exemplify the true "Golden Bear" spirit.
This year's Jake Gimbel award goes to Graham Ackerman. A six-time All-American and three-time NCAA national champion in floor exercise and vault, Ackerman has been a dominant and reliable force for the Golden Bears. Ackerman has likewise excelled in the classroom, graduating this spring with a double major in political science and interdisciplinary studies and a 3.6 GPA.
This year's Anna Espenschade award recipient is My-Lan Dodd. As noted earlier, Dodd is recognized as one of the top female gymnasts in Cal history, competing on vault, beam, floor and bars. She was the co-winner of the 2003 Pac-10 beam title. Dodd will graduate this spring with a double major in developmental studies and sociology and a 3.74 GPA.
Neufeld Scholar-Athlete Awards
The Neufeld Scholar-Athlete Achievement Awards are given to the graduating male and female student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade point averages. The award was established by Cal Hall of Fame member William Neufeld, Sr. in honor and memory of his son William Jr., who ran track at Cal, before his untimely death in a boating accident.
Peter Frings, Men's Crew
A contributing member of the men's crew squad, Frings is graduating with nearly a 3.7 GPA in history.
Molly Brady, Lacrosse
Brady has not only been a tremendous lacrosse player for Cal, she has received the Golden Bear Academic Achievement Award the past three years. She will graduate this spring with a 3.79 GPA in history.
Pac-10 Medal
A Pac-10 Medal is awarded annually at each member institution to that university's outstanding senior male and female student-athletes. The determination is based on the exhibition of the greatest combination of performance and achievement in scholarship, athletics and leadership.
Graham Ackerman, Men's Gymnastics
A native of Seattle, Wash., Ackerman recently won his second consecutive NCAA national title in floor exercise. In 2004, he captured the NCAA titles in both floor and vault. He has represented the United States in the World University Games, while excelling in the classroom with a 3.6 GPA and double
majoring in political science and interdisciplinary studies.
Kelly Anderson, Softball
A true veteran, Anderson has pitched in three World Series and dominated her opponents. Instrumental in Cal winning the national championship in 2003, Anderson has earned the regional Most Valuable Player award, as well as the Donna Terry Softball Award. Anderson has been named to the first team Pac-10 All-Academic team, excelling as a legal studies major at Berkeley and heading to law school this coming fall where she plans to pursue entertainment and sports law.
Walter A. Haas, Jr. Community Service Award
Created to honor Walter A. Haas, Jr. for his commitment and service to the university and larger community, this award is given annually to a student-athlete for their outstanding contribution to community service.
Lorenzo Alexander, football
A local product from Berkeley having attended St. Mary's High School, Alexander was one of the most dominant interior lineman in the Pac-10 throughout his career at Cal. A team captain and leader, Alexander never shied away from representing both the football team and Cal in the local community. A quiet and confident man, Alexander always gives of himself.
