May 5, 2000
Chicago, Ill. - The University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Intercollegiate Athletics honored 18 individual student-athletes and one team for outstanding academic achievement during the year at the 2000 Academic Awards Banquet. The night also included the handing out of seven special scholarships.
The UIC women's tennis team earned the Academic Team of the Year award while sophomore women's tennis competitor Kim Harris also was named the 2000 Female Student-Athlete of the Year. Bojan Petrovic, of the men's swimming team, was honored as the Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
Individual sport award winners, given to the student-athlete with the highest GPA on their team, were as follows - Brad Goebbert (Baseball), Kathy Casey (Softball), Thor Solverson (Men's Basketball), Jennifer Cook (Women's Basketball), Chris Stanley (Men's Cross Country), Kelly DerKacy (Women's Cross Country), Joe Stanfa (Men's Gymnastics), Kim Ball (Women's Gymnastics), Greg Chrisman (Soccer), Hilarie Hernandez (Volleyball), Bojan Petrovic (Men's Swimming), Julie-Anne Chico (Women's Swimming), Vijay Krishnamoorthy (Men's Tennis), Kim Harris (Women's Tennis), Shella Alami (Cheerleading), Cristin Chiganos (Dancing Flames).
The Dr. Robert Hamilton Scholarship, given to the top male and female student-athletic trainers, was awarded to Joanne Lach and Jason Matthews.
Julie-Ann Chico and Chris Stanley took home the Thomas Beckman Scholarship, while senior Eric Duke was honored with the Brian Perdue Fitzpatrick Scholarship, given annually to the baseball player who exemplifies the memory of the late Brian Fitzpatrick.
The Port Academic Scholarship, awarded to the student-athlete who benefited the most from the Port Academic Center, was given to Maciek Gadziala of the soccer team.
Tara Rhoden of the women's gymnastics team was the recipient of the Don Nash Scholarship, given to the student-athlete who best characterizes leadership, loyalty, work ethic and civic responsibility.
The Les Miller Award, honoring the baseball player who exemplifies leadership, loyalty and work ethic during his career, was given to Sean McNichols.
Finally, the Aileen S. Andrew Award, which is bestowed to two junior or senior student-athletes majoring in engineering, was given to Nick Dudziak and John Collins of the soccer team.
