University of Minnesota Athletics
Six Gophers Named WCHA Scholar-Athletes
3/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - Six Golden Gophers are among the 87 conference-member student-athletes named 2014-15 WCHA Scholar-Athletes Award recipients, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association announced Tuesday.
Senior Rachael Bona and junior Hannah Brandt are among the repeat honorees on the team, both earning the award for the second time in their careers. Being honored for the first time are sophomores Kelsey Cline, Kate Schipper and Lee Stecklein, as well as redshirt freshman Sidney Peters.
The WCHA Scholar-Athlete Award was developed through member team Faculty Representatives and approved by the conference membership for the 2005-06 season. To earn recognition as a WCHA Scholar-Athlete, conference-member student-athletes must have completed at least one year of residency at their present institution prior to the current academic year and must also have a grade-point average of at least 3.50 on a 4.0 scale for the previous two semesters or three quarters, or may qualify if his/her overall GPA is at least 3.50 for all terms at his or her present institution.
Over the 10 years of the award, there have now been more than 830 WCHA Scholar-Athlete honorees representing every men's and women's conference-member institution. Forty-seven (47) of this season's 87 recipients are repeat honorees, with 13 of those now being three-time honorees.
The WCHA presented the awards through Ferris State University President David Eisler (Chair, Men's League), St. Cloud State University Faculty Representative Bill Hudson (Chair, Women's League), men's Commissioner Bill Robertson and women's Commissioner Aaron Kemp.
"On behalf of the entire WCHA family, we extend our sincere congratulations to all of our men's and women's WCHA Scholar-Athletes for 2014-15," said Dr. Eisler, Dr. Hudson, Robertson and Kemp in a joint statement. "While the WCHA is proud to be among the most tradition-rich, historic and successful conferences in all of college athletics, our utmost priority will always be to providing the very best experience for our student-athletes - both on and off the ice.
"We are thrilled to publicly recognize the wonderful academic accomplishments of these outstanding young men and women. To compete at the highest collegiate level in your chosen sport, while also maintaining exemplary academic standards, takes tremendous commitment, effort and dedication. Our Scholar-Athlete Award recipients are a true testament to the mission of the WCHA and its member institutions. We commend and applaud each and every one of them."
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