MANHATTAN, Kan. Once again, the Kansas State women's rowing team has demonstrated that its aims for excellence encompass not only its athletic achievements, but also those in the classroom.

The team placed 45 of its student-athletes on the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll, which recognizes student-athletes who have excelled in the classroom with a 3.0 grade-point average or higher.

Five rowers earned a perfect 4.0 GPA during the fall semester, including Michelle Higgins of Manhattan, Heather Hoffman of Great Bend, Emily Neumann of Omaha, Neb., Bjai Rice of Wichita and Joleen Wilson of Smith Center.

Higgins and Hoffman were members of the First Novice 8+ crew that dominated fall competition, winning all three of its events. The success of the First Novice 8+ during the fall 2005 season, was the best results the K-State women’s rowing program has ever seen from a Novice 8+. Their most impressive win came at the Head of the Iowa where they took home gold, finishing 30 seconds ahead of Minnesota and 37 seconds ahead of Wisconsin.

"We are extremely proud of our student-athletes," Assistant Coach Paula Donald said. "The effort required to achieve such a feat, in light of our training and competitive schedule, is enormous. These women deserve all the recognition, and more."

Classrooms across the K-State campus are well-represented by the women's rowing team. Chemistry, agri-business, kinesiology and architecture are just a few of the majors chosen by women on the current Commissioner's Honor Roll list. The group also includes members of every class and from several different states including Colorado, Washington, Missouri and Virginia.

Not only has the women's rowing team set new records for success on the water this fall, the Wildcats also set a new program-best with an average team GPA of 3.075. The team also saw 71 percent of its 69 members achieve a GPA of 3.0 or better.

"We love to win on race day," Head Coach Patrick Sweeney said. "And, we consider these high marks a big victory for our program. Nothing speaks louder to the values and efforts we expect from our student-athletes."

K-State looks to continue its athletic and academic success with its spring season opener at the Longhorn Invitational on March 17-19 in Austin, Texas.

KANSAS STATE WOMEN’S ROWING

FALL 2005 BIG 12 COMMISSIONER’S HONOR ROLL

Kristin Alstatt, Sr., Marketing

Diann Beuthin, Fr., Kinesiology

Stephanie Black, Sr., Psychology

Emily Boswell, Fr., Pre-Journalism

Ashley Brooks, Fr., Business

Bailey Bunck, So., Education

Melissa Cessna, Jr., Mass Communications

Jacque Crockford, Sr., Kinesiology

Maggie Deckert, Fr., Fine Arts

Cali Dunham, So., Kinesiology

Kelsey Frasier, Jr., Agri-Business

Heather Gerstner, So., Open

Whitney Gilliland, Fr., Education

Kylie Hanson, Fr., Chemistry

Magda Hart, Jr., Kinesiology

Megan Hauver, Sr., Kinesiology

Michelle Higgins, So., Nutrition Science

Heather Hoffman, So., Communication Science

Jamie Holt, Sr., Kinesiology

Alexis Johnson, Jr., Athletic Training

Claire Johnson, Jr., Kinesiology

Michael Knoll, Fr., Business

Jessica Layne,  Fr., Open

Baylee Lehmann, Fr., Pre-Health

Catlin Lehmann, Fr., Business

Amber Mulyck, Fr., Open

Emily Neumann, Sr., Education

Carlee Parke, Fr., Kinesiology

Kate Priest, So., Family Studies

Jennifer Reuss, So., Pre-Architectural Engineering

Whitney Revell, So., Animal Science

Bjai Rice, So., Biology

Aimee Richardson, Fr., Environmental Design

Kris Richman, Fr., Open

Julia Roque, Fr., Animal Science

Danielle Scott, Jr., Psychology

Kelly Shockey, Jr., Athletic Training

Elisabeth Stewart, So., Biochemistry

Stephanie Talley, Fr., Biology

Haylee Vitztum, Fr., Pre-Journalism

Nicole Vogt, Fr., Environmental Design

Amy Wagner, Sr., Kinesiology

Lanee Webb, Fr., Open

Abbie Wharton, Sr. Architecture

Kaci Williams, Jr., Family Studies

Joleen Wilson,  Sr., Nutrition and Exercise