PULLMAN, Wash. –Washington State University Athletics honored its senior student-athletes at the 34th Annual Senior Recognition Luncheon Friday afternoon at the Bohler Athletic Complex.
The luncheon highlighted the academic and athletic contributions of this year's senior class of Cougar student-athletes.
The Pac-12 Conference Tom Hansen Conference Medal recipients are Joe Dahl (football) and Kourtney Guetlein (soccer). The conference medal winners are those who best reflect the greatest combination of performance and achievement in athletics, scholarship and leadership, as selected by the athletic director and senior administrative staff.
Eighteen student-athletes were recognized for the Senior Excellence in Academics Award, given to seniors who have earned a minimum of 90 credits with at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA, been members of the WSU Athletics All-Academic Team each semester, enrolled at WSU for at least two years, and excelled in their degree program and sport program. This year's recipients are Tori Gerken (rowing), Kourtney Guetlein (soccer), Amanda Henderson (women's track and field), Trang Huynh (tennis), Dominique Keel (women's track and field), Rachel Lewis (women's golf), Isabel Neyman (soccer), Loree Olson (swimming), Thane Pierson (men's track and field), Bethany Pupava (rowing), Forrest Shaffer (men's track and field/cross country), Sarah Steger (rowing), Katrina Tarrant (rowing), Kelsie Taylor (women's track and field), Jordan Watson (rowing), Cara Wegner (soccer), Presley Wetterstrom (swimming) and Nani Yanagi (women's golf).
The Pac-12 Conference Postgraduate Scholarship recipients are Forrest Shaffer (men's track and field/cross country) and Dominique Keel (women's track and field). The scholarships are awarded to a male and female student-athlete at each Pac-12 school who have excelled academically and athletically and intend to pursue a graduate degree.
The Cougar Pride Salute is awarded to one male and one female senior who has maintained over a 3.00 cumulative GPA and has displayed exceptional academic, athletic and outstanding personal qualities. This year's award winners are Joe Dahl (football) and Dominique Keel (women's track and field).
Terrance Chambers (men's track and field), Destiny Vaeao (football) and Lize Leenknecht (tennis) were presented the Athletic Director's Star Performer Award, given to the male and female senior student-athlete who bests reflect a commitment to academic improvement leading to successful completion of their degree.
Four seniors were presented the Steve Gleason Community Service and Leadership Award, given to those who have demonstrated strong citizenship skills and leadership qualities within their team and throughout the athletic department and community. This year, Jeremiah Allison (football), Junior Longrus (men's basketball), Rebecca Burns (rowing) and Kelsie Taylor (women's track and field) were recognized.
The Student-Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) True Cougar Award was presented to Terrance Chambers (men's track and field) and CharLee Linton (women's track and field/cross country). This award is presented to a male and female senior student-athlete who started their WSU careers as non-scholarship student-athletes, and who, to their respective teams, define leadership, commitment to excellence and Cougar Pride.
The Damien Ficek Athletic Training Award was presented to one male and female senior student-athlete who are humble, hard working in the training room and has overcome physical and/or other personal challenges to succeed at WSU. The award is presented in memory of former WSU athletic training student Damien Ficek, whose life came to an end in 2004 while serving his country in Iraq. This year's award winners are Patrick McGrath (baseball) and Kourtney Guetlein (soccer).
The Rob Oviatt Strength and Conditioning Award is presented to one male and one female senior student-athlete who possess a great commitment to training, are accountable to his/her workout, led by example and show an overall improvement in the weight room. Honoring the work ethic and training ideals of former WSU Director of Physical Development Rob Oviatt. This year's recipients are Junior Longrus (men's basketball) and Tori Gerken (rowing).
Jeremiah Allison (football) and Kelsie Taylor (women's track and field) were named as recipients of the Beulah M. Blankenship Outstanding Student-Athlete Award, given to acknowledge personal achievements of a senior male and female student-athlete at WSU. The award recognizes contributions to the highest values of athletic expression by sportsmanship, dedication and positive regard for others.
The WSU Alumni Association Big Ten Senior Award recognizes the most qualified five men and five women, each representing a specific aspect of the college experience. The categories are: academics, athletics, campus involvement, community service and visual/performing arts. This year's recipients are Joe Dahl (football) and Mariah Cooks (women's basketball).
Junior Longrus (men's basketball) and Lize Leenknecht (tennis) are recipients of the Cougar Athletics Leadership Award presented to senior student-athletes who have impacted positive change within their sport, the athletics department, Washington State campus, at the conference and/or national level, as well as the greater Pullman community.
Graduation at Washington State takes place Saturday, May 7.
