Utah State Recognizes 189 Student Athletes at Annual Whitesides Luncheon

Utah State’s [University] athletics department recognized 189 student athletes for achieving a 3.2 grade point average at the 20th annual Joe E. and Elma Whitesides Scholar-Athlete Luncheon April 23. 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 51 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 Bri Campbell who was named the Whitesides Scholar. Thirteen of the past 23 recipients of the top individual honor have been from track and field, while 19 of the past 22 honorees have been women.

Campbell graduates from Utah State in spring 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and carries a 3.96 cumulative grade point average. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in accounting from USU. Overall, Campbell is a four-time Whitesides Scholar Athlete recipient and a three-time academic all-Western Athletic Conference honoree.

As a student athlete, Campbell has earned second-team all-WAC honors twice during her career. She tied for sixth in the high jump at the 2011 WAC Indoor Championships and finished fourth in the high jump at the 2010 WAC Indoor Championships.

Utah State also handed out team honors and men’s golf was named the top academic team with fewer than 20 members. Women’s soccer was the top academic team with more than 20 members and men’s golf was the most improved academic team.

Brittany Fisher, who was a member of the track and field 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.

Admissions officers Jen Caines, Chauntelle Crockett, Patty Ross, Tonya Sorensen, Barbara Walker and Idena Ward were all presented the Meet The Challenge Award, while Jessica Parker was given the Outstanding Tutor Award and Nicholas Lauritzen was given the Outstanding Mentor Award for their work with USU’s student athletes.

The Whitesides honors began in 1953 by former USU athlete, coach and athletics director Joe E. Whitesides.

2013 UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY WHITESIDES SPECIAL HONORS

Whitesides Winner — Bri Campbell

Aggie Achievement Award — Brittany Fisher

Meet The Challenge — Admissions officers (Jen Caines, Chauntelle Crockett, Patty Ross, Tonya Sorenson, Barbara Walker, Idena Ward)

Outstanding Tutor — Jessica Parker

Outstanding Mentor — Nicholas Lauritzen

Top Teams (20-plus members)

1. Soccer

2. Women’s Track

3. Men’s Track

Top Teams (less than 20 members)

1. Men’s Golf

2. Men’s Tennis

3. Gymnastics

Most Improved Teams

1. Men’s Golf

2. Men’s Tennis

3. Gymnastics

*See the full list of Whitesides honorees at the Athletics website.

Contact:  Doug Hoffman, (435) 797-3714