Pioneers honor 16 on National Student Athlete Day

Platteville, Wis.-National Student Athlete Day (NSAD) was established in 1987 by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports to honor those student-athletes who achieved excellence in academics and athletics.  NSAD has been celebrated on April, 6 annually since its inception.

The University of Wisconsin-Platteville named one student-athlete from the 14 varsity sports, along with one from the cheer and stunt team and one student-athletic trainer.  Honorees were to be recognized at a luncheon, but due to COVID-19 the 2020 luncheon was cancelled. 

For 19 years, the Pioneer student athletes have been awarded Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic honors.  It is the longest streak in the WIAC.  To achieve All-Academic honors as an institution, the student-athletes must achieve a higher-grade point average than the overall student body.  234 Pioneer student-athletes achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in 2018-19.

The following student-athletes were recognized on NSAD by UW-Platteville and the Athletic department.  Each student-athlete highlighted one professor that made an impact in their academic career.

Sam Behm-Junior-Baseball-Beloit, Wisconsin

Major-Business Administration, Finance emphasis

Professor-Jacob Gantebein-School of Business

GPA-3.915

Caleb Christiansen- Freshman-Men's Cross Country-Springville, Iowa

Major-Engineering Physics

Professor-Kevin Bombardier-Mathematics

GPA-4.000

Rachel Emendorfer-Senior-Women's Basketball-Platteville, Wisconsin

Major-Health and Human Performance, Exercise Science emphasis

Professor-Elizabeth Gates-Psychology

GPA-3.802

Justin Fox-Junior-Men's Basketball-Emington, Illinois

Major-Animal Science and Agribusiness

Professor-Kevin Bernhardt-Agribusiness

GPA-3.969

Addison Freybler-Sophomore-Men's Soccer-Onalaska, Wisconsin

Major-Biology

Professor-Christopher Schulenburg-Foreign Languages

GPA-3.932

Taylor Gamble-Junior-Women's Soccer-Round Lake, Illinois

Major-Psychology and Criminal Justice

Professor-Kameko Halfmann-Psychology

GPA-3.883

Dayna Hartje-Senior-Cheer and Stunt-Marengo, Illinois

Major-Biology

Professor-Ryanne Breckenridge-Head Athletic Trainer

GPA-3.437

Katheryn Holter-Junior-Women's Track & Field-Hammond, Wisconsin

Major-Biology

Professor-Richard Dhyanchand-Biology

GPA-3.920

Caitlyn Ifft-Senior-Women's Cross Country-Fairbury, Illinois

Major-Animal Science and Agribusiness

Professor-Krista Hardyman-Animal Science

GPA-3.880

Riley Kelsch-Sophomore-Softball-Aurora, Illinois

Major-Forensic Investigation

Professor-Ian Mackenzie-Chemistry

GPA-3.834

Cortney Olson-Junior-Women's Golf-Onalaska, Wisconsin

Major-Civil Engineering, Geotechnical and Structural emphasis

Professor-Danny Xiao-Civil Engineering

GPA-3.859

Luke Pradel-Junior-Wrestling-Oswego, Illinois

Major-Physical Education

Professor-Tim Swenson-Health and Human Performance

GPA-3.468

Andrew Rakers-Senior-Football-Elm Grove, Wisconsin

Major-Environmental Engineering

Professor-Michael Penn-Environmental Engineering

GPA-3.910

Lita Solbrig-Sophomore-Volleyball-Bettendorf, Iowa

Major-Elementary Education

Professor-Jennifer Collins-Teacher Education

GPA-3.974

Benjamin Veverka-Sophomore-Men's Track and Field-Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin

Major-Civil Engineering

Professor-Richard Waugh-Geography

GPA-3.920

Michaela Ward-Senior-Sports Medicine-Rock Falls, Illinois

Major-Chemistry and Forensic Investigation

Professor-Raymond Pugh-Geography

GPA-3.611