News

Ten WWU student-athletes earn GNAC Far Academic Award

Photo: WWU Athletics


BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Ten Western Washington University student-athletes have been named recipients of Great Northwest Athletic Conference Faculty Athletics Representative’s Scholar-Athlete awards for 2017-18.

Presented annually to the most outstanding student-athletes at each GNAC institution, the award honors those athletes who have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.85 or better. All student-athletes, including redshirts, listed on any squad list at a GNAC full-member school, regardless of whether the sport is a GNAC championship sport, are eligible for the award. Conference affiliate members could nominate student-athletes from the sport in which they compete in the GNAC. A record 207 GNAC student-athletes, 66 men and 141 women, were recognized with FAR awards with 109 as repeat selections from last year.

WWU’s 10 selections were led by four selections from the track & field and cross country programs and three members of the national-runner up women’s rowing squad. The 10 selections are tied for third-most by WWU student-athletes since the award started in 2011-12, trailing only 15 selections in 2011-12 and 12 in 2012-13. Overall WWU’s student-athletes combined for a 3.10 GPA in 2017-18, with 10 of 13 teams posting a GPA over 3.00 (Indoor/Outdoor Track & Field is combined). All eight of WWU’s women’s programs recorded a team GPA over 3.00.

WWU student-athletes honored with 2017-18 FAR Awards from the GNAC included the following:

Name

Sport

Academic Major

Year

GPA

Hometown

Maddie Bangasser

Rowing

Undeclared

Fr.

4.00

Sammamish, WA

Tess Biscup

Volleyball

Undeclared

Fr.

3.85

Duvall, WA

Aaron Bosscher

Track & Field

Electrical Engineering

So.

3.98

Lynden, WA

Mariah Brelsford

Track & Field

Undeclared

Fr.

3.88

Bozeman, MT

Angie Dexter*

Rowing

Spanish

Jr.

3.88

Anchorage, AK

Aundrea Koger*

Track & Field/Cross Country

Biology

So.

3.90

Osage City, KS

Jasmine McMullin

Track & Field

English

Sr.

3.94

Sequim, WA

Maddie Merritt

Rowing

Sociology

Sr.

3.92

Parker, CO

Mackenzie Palmer

Softball

Accounting

So.

3.89

Federal Way, WA

Cameron Unks

Soccer

Biology

So.

3.88

Centennial, CO

Dexter & Koger are two-time FAR Award recipients

Recent Headlines

3 days ago in Sports

Fernando Mendoza throws a pick-6, struggles in 1st half of Raiders’ 22-20 preseason win over Texans

Top pick Fernando Mendoza is finding out quickly that he has a lot of work to do as he begins his NFL career. Mendoza struggled in his second preseason game, throwing an interception that Houston returned for a touchdown before the Las Vegas Raiders rallied late for a 22-20 victory over the Texans on Thursday night.

4 days ago in Sports

No. 1 overall pick Azzi Fudd of the Dallas Wings is set for season-ending surgery on sore knee

Dallas Wings guard Azzi Fudd is set for season-ending surgery on a sore knee that has sidelined this year's No. 1 overall pick for the past five games.

4 days ago in Sports

Max Verstappen extends contract with Red Bull to 2030 after he weighed up leaving F1

Max Verstappen says he seriously considered leaving Formula 1 before the four-time champion instead committed to four more years with Red Bull on Thursday.

4 days ago in Sports

Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers to play NHL games in Germany in 2027

The Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers will each play two regular-season games in Germany next year as part of the NHL and NHLPA's efforts to grow hockey in the country, the league announced Thursday.

6 days ago in Sports

LIV Golf to end season early and cancel the Michigan team event

LIV Golf is ending its season one week earlier than planned, announcing Monday it will not hold the team championship in Michigan next week and instead crown the team champion this week 20 miles north of Indianapolis.