Mapes named Pac-10 Softball Spring Scholar-Athlete of the Year
The Pacific-10 Conference has named Sun Devil Softball senior, <a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/mapes_jessica00.html">… Mapes</a> one of the spring Scholar-Athletes of the Year, presented by Toyo Tires®. These awards have been established to honor collegiate student-athletes who are standouts both academically and in their sports discipline. <br /><br />The Pac-10 Scholar-Athletes for spring include:<br /><br />Greg Lagreid, Washington State - Baseball, 3.48 - finance<br /><a href="http://thesundevils.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/mapes_jessica00.html">… Mapes</a>, Arizona State - Softball, 4.11 - family and human development<br />Alex Williams, Oregon State - Men's Golf, 3.65 - history<br />Azahara Muñoz, Arizona State - Women's golf, 3.96 - psychology<br />Michael Look, UCLA - Men's tennis, 3.91 - business/economics<br />Danielle Steinberg, Arizona - Women's tennis, 3.88 - sociology<br />Mark Murphy, Stanford - Men's rowing, 3.57 - mechanical engineering<br />Robin Hextrum, USC - Women's rowing, 3.80 - fine arts<br />Galen Rupp, Oregon - Men's track & field, 3.87 - business administration<br />Sarah Stevens, Arizona State - Women's track & field, 4.04 - M.Ed. elementary education<br /><br />In order to be eligible for the Pac-10 Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, student-athletes must be a senior (in athletics eligibility) on track to receive a degree, have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, participate in at least 50 percent of the scheduled contests in the sport and have a minimum of one year in residence at the institution. Each Pac-10 institution nominates one individual per sport, and the winners are selected by a committee of Pac-10 staff members at the conclusion of each sport's regular season. The athletic accomplishments of the nominees are a consideration in the voting for the award.<br /><br />A Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be named in each of the Pac-10's 22 sponsored sports: baseball, men's basketball, women's basketball, men's cross country, women's cross country, football, men's golf, women's golf, women's gymnastics, men's rowing, women's rowing, men's soccer, women's soccer, softball, men's swimming & diving, women's swimming & diving, men's tennis, women's tennis, men's track & field, women's track & field, women's volleyball, and wrestling.<br /><br />Scholar-Athletes of the Year in each sport will receive a commemorative award. Toyo® will donate $1,000 to the scholarship funds of the institution's athletic department of each winner in recognition of their accomplishments.<br /><br />"The Pac-10 and Toyo partnered in recognizing these student-athletes during the 2007-08 academic year and we are proud to continue recognizing these special student-athletes," said Tom Hansen, Commissioner of the Pac-10. "To be selected as the best student-athlete in any sport in the Pac-10 is a very special honor, and these are special young people, in academics as well as athletics. We are very appreciative that Toyo is helping them gain the recognition they deserve for their unique achievements."<br /><br />The Pac-10 Conference, in cooperation with Pac-10 corporate partner Toyo Tires, established the "Pac-10 Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards, presented by Toyo Tires" during the 2008-09 academic year.</p>