Michigan State University Athletics
Michigan State Recognizes Student-Athletes at Academic Gala
Michigan State Recognizes Student-Athletes at Academic Gala
Former Spartan greats Gene Washington and Molly Brennan receive special recognition.
April 26, 1998
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Michigan State University recognized more than 160 student-athletes tonight at the Spartan Academic Excellence Gala at the Kellogg Center.
NBC commentator and GTE spokesman Dick Enberg served as the keynote speaker for the banquet that honored student-athletes with grade-point averages of 3.0 or better. Student-athletes received a bronze, silver or gold medallion commemorating their achievement, while the student-athlete with the highest grade-point average from each of the 24 sports were recognized.
The evening also included a special recognition for former Spartan greats Gene Washington and Molly Brennan, for their accomplishments following graduation. Washington, who was a football and track star from 1964-67 is currently an executive with 3M in Minnesota. Brennan, who won a Rhodes Scholarship, was a track standout from 1979-82. She is currently a engineer for General Motors.
TEAM GPA HONOREESSport Student-Athlete Major Hometown Baseball Thomas Hartley Engineering Mechanics White Lake, MI Basketball Ben Drake Civil Engineering Naperville, IL Basketball Bella Engen Economics Hoenfoss, Norway Crew Megan Jewett Political Economy Portage, MI Cross Country Steve Schell Electrical Engineering Dearborn, MI Cross Country Leah Nilsson Packaging Williamston, MI Field Hockey Melissa Pryor Social Relations Ann Arbor, MI Football Max Axler General Business Shaker Heights, OH Golf Matthew Riegel Finance East Lansing, MI Golf Meggan Schumaker Elementary Education Columbia City, IN Gymnastics Troy Takagishi Physiology East Lansing, MI Gymnastics Kristin Peugeot Kinesiology Edon, OH Hockey Tyler Harlton Political Theory/ Pense, Saskatchewan Constitutional Democracy Soccer Matt Phillips Political Economy Chesterton, IN Soccer Meghan Kolbe Biology Education Troy, MI Softball Margaret Hollis Microbiology Anaheim, CA Swimming & Diving Fred Locke Physiology Plymouth, MI Swimming & Diving Ilaria Sciorelli General Business Admn. Torino, Italy Tennis Mark Findling Finance Livonia, MI Tennis Brooke Townsend Undecided East Lansing, MI Track & Field Matt Ingram Undecided Lyons, MI Track & Field Elizabeth Stover Psychology W. Worthington, OH Wrestling Eric Waggoner Astrophysics Troy, MI Volleyball Julie Pavlus Accounting Byron, IL