Palafox leads Pac-12 All-Academic gymnastics team

Graduate student Kahoku Palafox leads the Pac-12 Gymnastics All-Academic team, Commissioner Larry Scott announced today. The Gym Devils had a total of three athletes earn All-Pac-12 honors.

Palafox, who is pursuing a master’s degree in urban and environmental planning, was named to the Pac-12 All-Academic first team for the fourth time in her career. Palafox holds a 3.90 GPA in her postgraduate work at Arizona State and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in May of 2012 in sustainability. Palafox was also named second-team All-Pac-12 on bars. 

In addition to tackling course work and competition, the first-year graduate student has applied her knowledge of sustainable practices to benefit Sun Devil Athletics. Palafox wrote a case study on the sustainable efforts with in SDA and also helped spear head a Green Meet, where all waste was either recyclable or compostable.

Senior Amelia Rew, a member of the Barrett Honors College, earned second team Pac-12 All-Academic honors with a 3.48 GPA in Biological Sciences. Rew plans to attend physician’s assistant school when she graduates in May. Sophomore Natelle Gentile earned honorable mention honors and is currently studying communications at ASU.

To be eligible for selection to the academic team, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.0 overall grade-point average and be either a starter or a significant contributor.