<strong>LOGAN, Utah –</strong> Utah State’s athletics department recognized 200 student-athletes for achieving a 3.2 grade point average at the 21st annual Joe E. and Elma Whitesides Scholar-Athlete Luncheon Tuesday. To be eligible for the honor, student-athletes must have a cumulative 3.2 grade point average or have posted a 3.2 GPA during the last two semesters.
In all, approximately 53 percent of USU’s student-athletes earned a 3.2 GPA to qualify for the awards.
The top honoree during the luncheon was senior track athlete <strong>Katherine Vande Pol</strong> as 14 of the past 24 recipients of the top individual honor have been from track & field, while 20 of the past 23 honorees have been women. During that time, the only males to win the award have been Mike Puzey from men’s basketball in 2003, Tyler Ellis from men’s track who shared the award with Rebecca Anderson and Alison Taylor in 2009, and Daniel Howell from men’s track who shared the award with Katelyn Heiner in 2012.
Vande Pol (Los Gatos, Calif./De Anza JC) will graduate from Utah State this spring with a bachelor’s degree in animal, dairy and veterinary sciences and carries a 4.00 cumulative grade point average. Following graduation, she plans to pursue both her master’s degree and her Ph.D. in animal sciences. Overall, Vande Pol is a two-time Whitesides Scholar Athlete recipient and earned academic all-conference honors during her first year at USU in 2013.
As a student-athlete, Vande Pol has been a member of Utah State’s indoor and outdoor track and field teams, along with cross country during her two years at USU.
Utah State also handed out team honors and women’s tennis was named the top academic team with less than 20 members. Women’s track and field was the top academic team with more than 20 members and men’s cross country was the most improved academic team.
D.J. Tialavea, who was a member of the football team, received the Aggie Achievement Award for overcoming life challenges and personal adversity to ultimately excel as a student-athlete and obtain a high level of academic achievement at Utah State University.
Sarah Wallace, who is a Senior Staff Assistant in the College of Engineering, was presented the Meet The Challenge Award, while Jeremiah Bearss and Victoria Tonnemacher were both given the Outstanding Tutor Award, and Jaycie Miller was given the Outstanding Mentor Award for their work with USU’s student-athletes.
The Whitesides honors started in 1953 by former USU athlete, coach and athletics director Joe E. Whitesides.
<strong>
</strong>
<strong>2014 UTAH STATE WHITESIDES SPECIAL HONORS</strong>
<em>Whitesides Winner</em> – Katherine Vande Pol
<em>Aggie Achievement Award</em> – D.J. Tialavea
<em>Meet The Challenge</em> – Sarah Wallace
<em>Outstanding Tutors</em> – Jeremiah Bearss and Victoria Tonnemacher
<em>Outstanding Mentor</em> – Jaycie Miller
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Top Teams (20-plus members)</span>
1. Women’s Track
2. Soccer
3. Men’s Track
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Top Teams (less than 20 members)</span>
1. Women’s Tennis
2. Women’s Cross Country
3. Men’s Golf
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Most Improved Teams</span>
1. Men’s Cross Country
2. Women’s Cross Country
3. Men’s Track
<strong>2014 UTAH STATE WHITESIDES HONOREES</strong>
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Jon. M. Huntsman School of Business</span>
Nikolas Allred, Football – Business
Trevor Andersen, Men’s Track & Field – International Business
Jarom Baldomero, Football – Accounting
Kaitlyn Betts, Gymnastics – Business Administration
Mike Bills, Men’s Track & Field – Accounting
Parker Bluth, Men’s Track & Field – Accounting
Spencer Butterfield, Men’s Basketball – Business Administration
Paul Clark, Football – Accounting
Ben Clifford, Men’s Basketball – Finance/Economics
Sara Cobb, Soccer – Accounting
Brennan Coburn, Golf – Business Administration
James Croasdell, Men’s Basketball – Economics
Kyle Davis, Men’s Basketball – Business Administration
Joe Gough, Men’s Track & Field – Marketing
Austin Groll, Men’s Track & Field – Business Administration
Cole Lambourne, Men’s Track & Field – Business Administration
B.J. Larsen, Football – Business Administration
Trent Loveless, Football – Accounting
Jeff Manning, Football – Business Administration
Alex Marsaw, Football – Business Administration
Dan Mosman, Men’s Track & Field – Finance
Michael Okonkwo, Football – Finance
CJ O’Neal, Men’s Track & Field – Business Administration /Marketing
Travis Parrish, Football – International Business
Fredrik Peterson, Men’s Tennis – Business Administration
Jennifer Schlott, Women’s Basketball – Marketing
Travis Seefeldt, Football – Management Information Systems
Nick Steingreaber, Men’s Track & Field – Finance
Annie Thomas, Softball – Business Administration
Andrew Whiting, Men’s Tennis – Business
Connor Winters, Football – Business Administration
Michelle Yasukochi, Gymnastics – Accounting
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources</span>
Tom Derr, Men’s Track & Field – Environmental Studies
Elizabeth Winters, Women’s Track & Field – Conservation & Restoration Ecology
Chalese West, Women’s Track & Field – Wildlife Science
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>College of Engineering</span>
Jaron Bentrude, Football – Mechanical Engineering
Nic Bowens, Men’s Track & Field – Civil Engineering
Ben Bracken, Men’s Track & Field – Mechanical Engineering
Austin Costley, Men’s Track & Field – Mechanical Engineering
Jake Doughty, Football – Mechanical Engineering
Danielle Gaztambide, Soccer – Biological Engineering
Tanner Hunt, Men’s Track & Field – Biological Engineering
Abby Indreland, Softball – Mechanical Engineering
Julia Klingler, Women’s Track & Field – Mechanical Engineering
Jamie Markosian, Football – Civil Engineering
Nick Markosian, Football – Civil Engineering
Chris Martinez, Men’s Track & Field – Mechanical Engineering
Eric Shellhorn, Men’s Track & Field – Mechanical Engineering
Katie Sweet, Women’s Tennis – Biological Engineering
Jeff Taylor, Men’s Track & Field – Mechanical Engineering
Elliot Willis-Orlando, Men’s Track & Field – Mechanical Engineering
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Emma Eccles Jones College of Education & Human Services</span>
Breyanna Aufiero, Gymnastics – Exercise Science
Eric Berntson, Football – Social Studies Composite Teaching
Sydney Blair, Women’s Track & Field – Exercise Science
Jessica Brooksby, Soccer – Exercise Science
Katie Brown, Gymnastics – Exercise Science
Kelsey Burke, Soccer – Exercise Science
Stephanie Burt, Women’s Track & Field – Exercise Science
Brittany Bushman, Women’s Track & Field – Exercise Science
Karlee Campbell, Soccer – Pre-Physical Therapy
Emily Catron, Women’s Track & Field – Exercise Science
Clayton Christensen, Football – Exercise Science
Sarah Chow, Softball – Family Life Studies
Alyssa Curtis, Soccer – Exercise Science
Samantha Curtis, Soccer – Exercise Science
Stefanie Daley, Gymnastics – Psychology
McKenzie Davis, Women’s Tennis – Exercise Science
Maddie Day, Volleyball – Psychology
Kayla DeCoursey, Volleyball – Family Life Science
Kylie Dibb, Soccer – Exercise Science
Mia Estes, Women’s Track & Field – Pre-Physical Therapy
Alyssa Everett, Volleyball – Exercise Science
Katie Flynn, Soccer – Exercise Science
Hannah Gleason, Volleyball – Exercise Science
Shay Haddow, Soccer – Exercise Science
Maris Hamblin, Soccer – Exercise Science
Cheyenne Harper, Softball – Communicative Disorders & Deaf Education
Sydney Hart, Softball – Exercise Science
Kaylee Hartshorn, Women’s Track & Field – Interdisciplinary Studies
Hillary Hayes, Women’s Tennis – Elementary Education
Lexie Henrie, Soccer – Family, Consumer & Human Development
Kendsey Hill, Softball – Elementary Education
Kylie Ross, Women’s Track & Field – Pre-Physical Therapy
Jenna Johnson, Women’s Basketball – Elementary Education
Lynette Johnson, Women’s Basketball – Psychology
McKenzie Johnson, Women’s Track & Field – Exercise Science
Daphne Jones, Women’s Track & Field – Psychology
Miranda Kerr, Gymnastics – Family, Consumer & Human Development
Bethany King, Women’s Track & Field – Elementary Education
Sarah Landes, Gymnastics – Exercise Science/Marketing
Samantha Larsen, Softball – Health Education & Promotions
Ann Marie Lee, Soccer – Exercise Science
Kayla Lee, Women’s Track & Field – Pre-Physical Therapy
Carly Lenzen, Volleyball – Exercise Science
Allison Lenzora, Softball – Interdisciplinary Studies
Kyli McSpadden, Women’s Track & Field – Family, Consumer & Human Development
Kristen Meyers, Gymnastics – Exercise Science
Susie Miller, Gymnastics – Psychology
Mari Miyashiro, Soccer – Family, Consumer & Human Development
Morgan Monks, Women’s Track & Field – Family, Consumer & Human Development
Devin Montgomery, Softball – Exercise Science
Lexie Morgan, Soccer – Exercise Science
Kirstyn Namba, Softball – Pre-Physical Therapy
Nate Needham, Football – Exercise Science
Elise Nelson, Women’s Basketball – Pre-Physical Therapy
Paige Neves, Volleyball – Communicative Disorders & Deaf Education
Christina Nye, Gymnastics – Pre-Physical Therapy
Rachel Orr, Volleyball/Women’s Track & Field – Exercise Science
Tori Parkinson, Women’s Track & Field – Exercise Science
Ryan Pearson, Golf – Communicative Disorders & Deaf Education
Silas Pimentel, Men’s Track & Field – Pre-Physical Therapy
Travis Reynolds, Football – Interdisciplinary Studies
Ashlan Rogers-Court, Volleyball – Communicative Disorders & Deaf Education
Eli Rogers, Golf – Pre-Physical Therapy
Taryn Rose, Soccer – Exercise Science
Grahm Schmaltz, Golf – Interdisciplinary Studies
Ashley Shields, Women’s Track & Field – Family, Consumer & Human Development
Heather Simpson, Women’s Track & Field – Communicative Disorders & Deaf Education
Brayden Stembridge, Football – Exercise Science
Amanda Stoudt, Women’s Track & Field – Pre-Physical Therapy
Kaitlyn Stratton, Soccer – Elementary Education
Bradford Strobell, Men’s Track & Field – Pre-Physical Therapy
Joe Summers, Football – Exercise Science
Bethani Talbot, Women’s Track & Field – Elementary Education
Lexi Turley, Women’s Tennis – Exercise Science
Samantha Wagner, Gymnastics – Psychology
Kalon Weston, Men’s Track & Field – Exercise Science
Jensen Williams, Women’s Track & Field – Health Education & Promotions
Jodi Williams, Women’s Track & Field – Exercise Science
Xavier Williford Jr., Men’s Track & Field – Interdisciplinary Studies
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Caine College of the Arts</span>
Jamie Duke, Soccer – Art
Karli Lundquist, Women’s Track & Field – Art
Kyle McKenna, Men’s Track & Field – Music
Ashlyn Mulford, Soccer – Art
Katie Nielson, Women’s Track & Field – Music
Shaleen Richardson, Women’s Track & Field – Art
Kaitlyn VanHoff, Volleyball – Art
Jacqueline Winterton, Women’s Track & Field – Music
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>College of Science</span>
Joanna Boyd, Women’s Track & Field – Statistics
Kelsey Girardelli, Women’s Track & Field – Biology
Mikayla Howes, Soccer – Public Health
Dacia Hunter, Women’s Track & Field – Biology Science Composite Teaching
Sara Lorscheider, Soccer – Biology Science Composite Teaching
Hayley Sanzotti, Gymnastics – Biology
Dylan Harlow, Men’s Tennis – Computer Science
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”> </span>
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>College of Agriculture & Applied Sciences</span>
Jacob Barton, Men’s Track & Field – Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences
Sydney Blaser, Women’s Track & Field – Animal, Dairy & Veterinary Science
Hollie Bosworth, Women’s Track & Field – Family Consumer Science
Michael Cardinal, Men’s Track & Field – Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences
Laycee Elliott, Women’s Track & Field – Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences
Chari Hawkins, Women’s Track & Field – Family Consumer Science Education
Tanner Higham, Golf – Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences
Natalie Norris, Soccer – Nutrition and Food Sciences/Exercise Science
Reed Platke, Golf – Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning
Brooke Rawlins, Women’s Track & Field – Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences
Megan Rhead, Softball – Animal, Dairy & Veterinary Sciences
Cierra Simmons, Women’s Track & Field – Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences
Katherine Vande Pol, Women’s Track & Field – Animal, Dairy & Veterinary Sciences
Bailee Whitworth, Women’s Track & Field – Nutrition, Dietetics & Food Sciences
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>College of Humanities and Social Sciences</span>
Abby Andrews, Women’s Track & Field – Communication Studies
Makayla Betz, Gymnastics – Social Work
Brock Bird, Football – Communication Studies
Karlee Deeter, Women’s Track & Field – History Teaching
Tijana Djukic, Women’s Basketball – Global Communication
Daniel Gray, Football – Sociology
Lars Gunderson, Football – Interdisciplinary Studies
Wyatt Houston, Football – Sociology
Paige Jones, Gymnastics – English
Brooke Larsen-Leavitt, Soccer – Journalism
Elise Maddox, Women’s Track & Field – Spanish Teaching
Mariah Peterson, Softball – Social Work
Selina Ramsey, Women’s Track & Field – English
Cree Taylor, Women’s Track & Field – English Teaching
Daquan Vandross, Football – Sociology
Zach Waxler, Golf – Journalism
Curran Wearmouth, Men’s Tennis – Geology
Jeannie Woller, Soccer – Creative Writing
Daniel Wray, Football – English
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>University Studies</span>
Ricky Ali’ifua, Football – Undeclared
Dennis Baumgartner, Men’s Tennis – Undeclared
Sander Brouwers, Men’s Track & Field – Undeclared Business
Jordan Brown, Football – Undeclared Business
Morgan Carter, Softball – Undeclared Business
Anna Maki, Women’s Track & Field – Undeclared
Bailey McIntire, Gymnastics – Undeclared
Braxton Miller, Golf – Undeclared
Brittany Rawlins, Women’s Track & Field – Undeclared
Erica Richins, Women’s Track & Field – Undeclared
Jayne Robison, Soccer – Undeclared
Sebastian Schneider, Men’s Tennis – Undeclared
Kallie Sperry, Women’s Tennis – Undeclared
Ashley Stuhlmann, Women’s Tennis – Undeclared
Jake Thompson, Football – Undeclared Business
Alec Willard, Men’s Track & Field – Undeclared
Colby Wilson, Men’s Track & Field – Undeclared
Katelyn Zabriskie, Women’s Track & Field – Undeclared
<span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>School of Graduate Studies</span>
Aubrie Haymore, Women’s Track & Field – Health & Human Movement
Matt Thatcher, Men’s Tennis – Accounting
Cristal Turner, Women’s Basketball – Physical & Sport Education
<strong>-USU-</strong>