CLARKSVILLE
- Austin Peay State University women's track and field seniors Carrie Burggraf
and Shamai Larsen were each named to ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District
IV First Team as selected by CoSIDA, the association announced, Wednesday.
Burggraf,
a Marion, Ohio native, finished her career with a 4.0 grade-point average and
earned bachelor's degrees in political science and history.
Off
the field, Burggraf recently became the first Ohio Valley Conference
student-athlete to receive the Steve Hamilton Award - the annual award is based
upon significant athletics performance along with good sportsmanship and
citizenship - twice during their career. She also was awarded the prestigious
NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship, which is awarded to student-athletes who excel
academically and athletically and who are in their final year of
intercollegiate athletics competition.
On
the field, Burggraf posted a 13-05 pole vault in the OVC outdoor championships,
shattering her own OVC championship record and claiming her sixth championship.
She also qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field championships for a
third consecutive season.
Larsen,
a Dillingham, Alaska native, also graduated with a 4.0 grade-point average
while obtaining her bachelor's degree in health and human performance.
Larsen
was recently commissioned as a second lieutenant during Austin Peay's Spring
Commencement. She was one of eight recipients (out of 4,700 Army ROTC seniors
nationally) of the Legion of Valor Bronze Cross of Achievement, presented to
ROTC cadets who demonstrate scholastic excellence in military and academic
subjects to stimulate the development of leadership.
Larsen
also was one of only two ROTC juniors to receive the Palla Athene Award,
presented for overall excellence as an Army ROTC Cadet and College Student. She
also received Austin Peay's Megenthall Award for outstanding performance as a
student and brining recognition to the university through their achievements
and service.
Both
Burggraf and Larsen will now appear on the national ballot for Academic
All-American consideration which will be announced Thursday, June 24.
To be eligible for nomination, a
student-athlete must have reached sophomore academic standing and have at least
a 3.30 cumulative grade point average. District IV selections come from schools
located within the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.
- AP -