The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) is proud to announce the winner of the fourth annual GPAC-Christopherson All-Academic Award. Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska, claims the honor with the combined GPA of 3.270 among all of their 493 student-athletes for the 2008-2009 academic year. The Prairie Wolves ended a three year run by Mount Marty who won the award in 2005-2006. 2006-2007, and 2007-2008.
A traveling award was presented by Corey Westra, Commissioner of the GPAC, at the GPAC Spring League Meetings last week in Sioux City, Iowa, at Briar Cliff University. The award was presented to Dr. Loy Watley, Faculty Athletic Representative and Dr. Ira Zeff, Athletics Director at Nebraska Wesleyan.
"On behalf of the membership of the GPAC I want to commend Nebraska Wesleyan on winning the Dr. Christopherson All-Academic Award for 2008-2009," said Corey Westra, GPAC Commissioner. "A combined GPA of 3.27 with almost 500 student-athletes speaks volumes to the hard work and commitment of the Nebraska Wesleyan student-athletes, professors, coaches, and administrators." "Nebraska Wesleyan is a charter member of the league and has won the All-Sports Trophy many times in the past and to win this award is a credit to their commitment to academics at their University," added Westra.
"We expect Nebraska Wesleyan student-athletes to be outstanding students AND outstanding athletes," said Nebraska Wesleyan FAR Dr. Loy Watley. "The preparation and hard work they put into their sports matches the preparation and hard work they put into their studies. Our faculty, staff, coaches, and administrators are excited to join the GPAC in recognizing the outstanding work of Nebraska Wesleyan's student-athletes."
"We are very excited and proud that our student athletes are the recipients of the 2008-09 Dr. Myrvin Christopherson All-Academic Award," said Nebraska Wesleyan Athletic Director Dr. Ira Zeff. "One of Nebraska Wesleyan's core values is excellence and this achievement is another example of our student-athletes long standing tradition of excellence on the field and in the classroom."
The Christopherson All-Academic Award, which began in 2005-2006, is named in honor of former Dana College President Dr. Myrvin Christopherson's faithful and long-term service to student-athletes in the GPAC. Dr. Christopherson retired following the 2004-2005 academic year after 19 years of dedicated leadership at Dana College in Blair, Nebraska.
President Christopherson served as the first chair of the GPAC Council of Presidents, which was formed in 2004. Dr. Christopherson was very active with the NAIA serving on the Council of Presidents for many years up until his retirement. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Christopherson was a Viking student athlete himself, playing for the men's basketball and baseball teams.
Concordia University and Mount Marty College were second and third in the All-Academic standings with 3.229 and 3.216 GPA's respectively. Ten of the 13 GPAC schools boasted collective GPA's over a 3.000 last year.
