May 2, 2008
Chicago, Ill.- Earlier this week the UIC Athletic Department celebrated the academic achievements of its student-athletes at the 2008 Night of Champions Banquet held inside the Student Services Building on April 29.
In front of a packed hall of student-athletes, coaches, administration, staff, parents and professors, UIC Athletics' best and brightest were honored for their work in the classroom, in the field of competition and in the community.
The 12-time Horizon League champion women's tennis team was named UIC's Academic Team of the Year with the best team cumulative grade point average in the department.
Jenna Reisch of the women's tennis team was named the UIC Female Student-Athlete of the Year, while baseball's Peter Ifft and men's tennis' Tim O'Brien were recognized as the Male Student-Athletes of the Year. All three have perfect 4.0 GPAs.
Student-athletes with their team's top grade point average were recognized, and six prestigious scholarships were presented.
Interim chancellor and former faculty athletic representative Dr. Eric Gislason was also presented with a UIC letter jacket by Student Athlete Advisory Committee president Liz Hrebic on behalf of her fellow student-athletes for his years of service.
2008 UIC NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS AWARDS
Team Student-Athletes of the Year (Top Grade Point Averages)
Baseball - Peter Ifft
Men's Basketball - Scott VanderMeer
Women's Basketball - Cassie Johnson
Men's Cross Country - Tom Schutzius
Women's Cross Country - Danyelle Somerfield
Men's Gymnastics - Nikolai Korepanov
Women's Gymnastics - Justine Jaworowicz
Soccer - Pawel Ligas
Softball - Lauren Brennan
Men's Swimming & Diving - Cameron Seebeck
Women's Swimming & Diving - Andrea Giczewski
Men's Tennis - Tim O'Brien
Women's Tennis - Jenna Reisch
Men's Track & Field - Oscar Pina
Women's Track & Field - Lauren Fogarty
Volleyball - Katerina Hanackova
Thomas Beckham Scholarship - Mary Brennan (Women's Cross Country) and Oscar Pina (Men's Track & Field)
Colvin Communication Scholarship - Tristan Erlenbaugh (Women's Gymnastics)
Don Nash Scholarship - Karl White (Men's Basketball)
Aileen S. Andrew Scholarship - Peter Ifft (Baseball) and Tim O'Brien (Men's Tennis)
Port Academic Scholarship- Cesar Zambrano (Soccer)
Female Student-Athlete of the Year - Jenna Reisch (Women's Tennis)
Male Student- Athlete of the Year - Peter Ifft (Baseball) and Tim O'Brien (Men's Tennis)
Academic Team of the Year - Women's Tennis
