January 26, 2006

Northern Illinois University Honors 42 Student-Athlete Scholars

DeKalb, IL - Northern Illinois University Director of Athletics Jim Phillips announced the names of 42 student-athletes who have earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average during the Spring 2005 and Fall 2005 semesters. The honorees will be recognized Monday, Jan. 30, during a banquet in the Clara Sperling Skyroom at the Holmes Student Center. This annual event in its second year and is sponsored by Verizon and NIU Athletics as part of the Academic Excellence Program.

"We are extremely proud of our student-athletes and the excellence that they demonstrated in both academics and athletics," said Phillips. "These are quality individuals who are truly great representatives of our university and our athletic programs. Forty-two of our 469 student-athletes with perfect 4.0 GPA's is an amazing percentage."

Below is the full list of this year's honorees.

Name (Hometown/High School), Sport, Major.
Anthony Antonacci (Naperville/Neuqua Valley), Football, Liberal Arts & Sciences.
Sarah Bates (Naperville/Geneseo JD Darnall), W. Track, Family & Social Services.
Matthew Behren (Elmwood Park/Holy Cross), Baseball, Business Administration.
Shelby Bernard (Cedar Falls, IA/River Grove), Softball, Public Health.
Beth Chaney (Frazeyburg, OH/Tri-Valley), W. Gymnastics, Elementary Education.
Meghan Cronin (St. Charles/East), W. Gymnastics, Studio Art - Design.
Alicja Czajka (Swarzedz, Poland/Poznan), W. Track, Exercise Physiology.
Jacob Ebenhoch (Sussex, WI/Hamilton), Football, COMS - Media Studies.
Doug Free (Manitowoc, WI/Lincoln), Football, Industrial Engineering.
Willy Gali-Solanas (Barcelona, Spain/les Avsias March), M. Tennis, Industrial Engineering.
Meghan Ginter (Aurora/Waubonsie Valley), W. Track, Nursing.
Joshua Goodwin (Minooka), Baseball, Industrial Management.
Audra Gordon (Madison, WI/LaFollette), W. Soccer, Marketing.
Adam Grimm (Mequon, WI/Homestead), Football, Liberal Arts & Sciences.
Joseph Hilby (Rockford/Boylan), Football, Electrical Engineering.
Amanda Johnson (Maple Grove, MN), W. Gymnastics, Business.
Irene Johnson (Schaumburg), Volleyball, Family, Consum. & Nutrition.
Kalen Knull (Urbana, OH/Graham), Wrestling, Pre-Physical Therapy.
Lindsey Lachiana (Oak Lawn/Richards), Softball, Accountancy.
Amy Ligmanowski (Lockport), Softball, Elementary Education.
Andrew Lothson (DeKalb), Football, Law.
Erick Martinez (Huixguilucan, Mexico/Prepa Abierta), M. Tennis, Business Administration.
William McDermott (Mundelein), Wrestling, Psychology.
Christine Nagel (Millstadt/Belleville West), W. Tennis, Biological Sciences.
Jennifer Naughton (Smithville, MO), W. Gymnastics, Liberal Arts & Sciences.
Jacqueline Olson (Bolingbrook), W. Track, Athletic Training.
Denise Papke (New Lenox/Lincoln Way Central), W. Soccer, Nutrition & Dietetics.
Kelly Park (North Aurora/West Aurora), Softball, Physical Education.
Stacey Rosch (Carol Stream/Glenbard North), Cross Country, Nursing.
Michael Santoro (River Forest/Oak Park Fenwick), Baseball, Economics.
Jessica Schauff (Dixon), W. Track, Accountancy.
Robert Stevens (Chicago/Guerin Prep), Baseball, Liberal Arts & Sciences.
Jennifer Uptmor (Centerville, OH), W. Basketball, COMS - Media Studies.
Denisse Valladares (Mt. Prospect/Arlington Hgts. Hersey), W. Track, Pre-Elementary Education.
Alyssa Verdegan (Glen Flora, WI/Flambeau), W. Basketball, Physical Education.
Amanda Ward (Sycamore), Volleyball, Elementary Education.
Jessica Wilcox (Oshkosh, WI/West), W. Basketball, Art Education.
Ashlee Williams (Liberty, MO/Senior), W. Gymnastics, Biological Sciences.
Jamie Wilson (Reynoldsburg, OH), W. Basketball, Elementary Education.
Jody Yednock (West Chicago), W. Gymnastics, Math-Probability/Stats.
Marie Zidek (Orland Park/Marian Catholic), Volleyball, Prev. & Rehab Exercise Science.

(For more information, please contact David Brauer) -NIU-