Jesse Jackson Addresses Student-Athletes

Spartan academic standouts honored at annual gala.

April 17, 2000

East Lansing, Mich. - The Reverend Jesse Jackson addressed more than 170 Michigan State University student-athletes at the Spartan Academic Excellence Gala on April 16 at the Kellogg Hotel and Convention Center on campus.

The gala recognized student-athletes with grade-point averages of 3.0 or better. MSU's best and brightest received medallions commemorating their achievement, while the student-athlete with the highest grade-point average from each of the 24 sports was also recognized.

In addition to current student-athletes, MSU also recognized former golfer Joan Garety and former basketball player Peter Gent as the Scholar-Athlete Alumni Award winners. The awards are presented annually to a former male and female student-athlete for outstanding achievements following graduation. Garety is vice-president finance and treasurer for Meijer, Inc., while Gent is an author and screenwriter and former NFL player.

Other award recipients included Joe Tate (football), Jason Andreas (basketball) and Cindy Durocher (cross country/track) as the Outstanding Freshman Student-Athlete Award winners and Richard Brown (football) was the Ingham Regional Medical Center I've Got Heart Servant Leadership Award winner for his outstanding service to the community this year.

Highest Individual GPA By Team
Baseball - Michael Pisani
Men's Basketball - Mat Ishbia
Women's Basketball - Abby Salscheider
Crew - Krista Buzzell
Men's Cross Country - Brian Wardlow
Women's Cross Country-Leah Nilsson
Field Hockey - Jacqueline Scally
Football - Max Axler
Men's Golf - John Koskinen
Women's Golf - Kari Prochazka
Men's Gymnastics - Troy Takagishi
Women's Gymnastics - Polly Kiker
Hockey - Joe Blackburn
Men's Soccer - Tyler Robinson
Women's Soccer - Ann Cieszkowski
Softball - Margaret Hollis
Men's Swimming & Diving - Michael McKee
Women's Swimming & Diving - Kira Glover
Men's Tennis - Mark Findling
Women's Tennis - Nicole Golda
Men's Track & Field - Matthew Ingram
Women's Track & Field - Shanna Ashley
Volleyball - Sarah Gustin
Wrestling - John Wechter