May 3, 2012

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May 3, 2012

BERKELEY - In a room full of the best and the brightest of Cal's student-athletes at the annual Academic Honors Luncheon Thursday, senior swimmer Shelley Harper spoke for most of the Golden Bears when she stated that her experience in Berkeley has been "the most difficult and rewarding experience of my life."

Harper, who served as a co-captain on the NCAA champion women's swimming and diving team this past season and delivered the student-athlete address at the lunch, is graduating this year with a 3.5 GPA in a challenging integrative biology program. At the banquet, she received a Pac-12 Postgraduate Scholarship and was a co-winner of the Walter A. Haas Jr. Community Service Award.

"Cal has given me more than I could have ever dreamed," said Harper, who also earned the Golden Bear Achievement Award for compiling the highest GPA on her team. "My unique experience here has shaped me into a person I am proud to be. I hope you all find our own special journey that is full of amazing moments."

In her speech, Harper listed some of the significant events that have impacted her most while at Cal, from learning about the importance of community during a Relay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Foundation to understanding the value of the small things that are easy to overlook.

"Every day at Cal, I have had at least one amazing moment, whether it was watching a leaf float down Strawberry Creek or meeting someone new," Harper said. "If you look for the little moments in your life, I guarantee you will get everything that you can out of the amazing opportunity you have being a student-athlete at the No. 1 public university."

Harper added, "I'm thankful for all the people here at Cal - including the coaches, peers, teammates and staff - who have helped me to become who I am today and who are helping me leave on such a high note."

The swimmer - who earned All-America honors this season for the first time in her career - will graduate in December and plans on becoming a nurse practitioner.

The list of attendees at the luncheon included student-athletes who have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, or have earned conference, regional or national academic honors, or have served the community as leaders or mentors. The event was co-sponsored by the Big C Society and the Athletic Study Center and included comments from Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour, Chancellor Robert Birgeneau and Big C Society president Burl Toler.

The following is the list of award winners:

Golden Bear Team Award
The Golden Bear Team Award is given to the varsity team with the highest cumulative grade-point average. This year's award goes to the volleyball team, with a team GPA of 3.40, which is the highest average since the Athletic Study Center began compiling such statistics more than 10 years ago.

Big C Most Improved Team Award
This award goes to the team that has made the greatest improvement in the last year relative to its historical grade-point average. The 2011-12 recipient is women's golf.

Tom Hansen Pac-12 Conference Medal
The Tom Hansen Pac-12 Conference Medal is awarded annually at each member institution to that university's outstanding senior male and female student-athletes. The determination is based on the exhibition of the greatest combination of performance and achievement in scholarship, athletics and leadership.

Male - Jorge Gutierrez (Men's Basketball)
Female - Valerie Arioto (Softball)

Neufeld Scholar-Athlete Awards
The Neufeld Scholar-Athlete Awards are given to the graduating male and female student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade-point averages. The award was established by Cal Hall of Famer William Neufeld Sr. in honor and memory of his son, William Jr., who ran track at Cal before his untimely death in a boating accident.

Male - Andreas Santucci (men's diving)
Female - Jessica Kreck (field hockey)

Pac-12 Post-Graduate Scholarships
Created to honor outstanding scholar-athletes intending to pursue graduate studies and awarded by each Pac-12 institution, they include a $3,000 stipend for graduate work.

Jana Juricova - women's tennis
Giorgio Tavecchio - football
Shelley Harper - women's swimming
Maxime Chevee - men's cross country/track & field

Oscar Geballe Postgraduate Scholarships
This award, now in its 31st year, was created through the generosity of Dr. Theodore Geballe to honor his father, Oscar Geballe. This award recognizes Oscar Geballe's devotion to Cal and his strong belief in the value of combining scholarship and intercollegiate athletic competition. Since 1981, the Geballe award has helped more than 75 Golden Bears continue their education at the postgraduate level with a $5,000 stipend going to each winner.

Maxime Chevee - men's cross country/track & field
Linda Oseso - women's track & field
Kristina Lofman - women's crew

Jake Gimbel Prize and Anna Espenschade Award
The Jake Gimbel Prize and Anna Espenschade Award were established in the 1930s and 1987, respectively, to recognize a graduating male and female student-athlete for successful integration of academic and athletic pursuits. The winners of these awards exemplify the true "Golden Bear" spirit.

Giorgio Tavecchio - football
Jana Juricova - women's tennis

Joseph McDonnell Kavanagh Award
This award, in its sixth year, recognizes the student-athlete who has made exceptional improvement in his or her academic and intellectual pursuits at Cal. The University's motto - Fiat Lux, "Let there be light" - is appropriate for this most academically inspirational athlete award.

Marvin Jones - football

Walter A. Haas Jr. Community Service Award
The Walter A. Haas Jr. Community Service Award was created to honor Walter A. Haas Jr. for his commitment and service to the University and larger community. This award is given annually to a student-athlete for his or her outstanding contribution to community service.

Shelley Harper - women's swimming
Linda Oseso - women's track & field

Golden Bear Achievement Awards
The Golden Bear Achievement Awards are presented to the student-athlete with the highest GPA on his or her respective team.

Male Student-Athletes
Name                 Major                                Sport
Michael Lowden       English                              Baseball
Harper Kamp          American Studies                     Basketball
Michael Perretta     Political Science                    Crew
Bob Riestenberg      Chemical Engineering                 Cross Country
Giorgio Tavecchio    Political Economy                    Football
Brandon Hagy         Business Administration              Golf
Matthew del Junco    Business Administration              Gymnastics
Mark Richter         Business Administration              Rugby
Eric Sassano         Environmental Economics and Policy   Soccer
Mark Prior           Political Science                    Swimming & Diving
Ben McLachlan        Interdisciplinary Studies            Tennis
Dan Davis            American Studies                     Track & Field
Andrew Boyce         Political Science                    Water Polo

Female Student-Athletes
Name                 Major                                Sport
Layshia Clarendon    American Studies                     Basketball
Alyssa Machida       Art History                          Crew
Chelsea Reilly       English                              Cross Country
Jordan O'Reilly      Business Administration              Field Hockey
Jacqueline Williams  Psychology                           Golf
Alicia Asturias      Psychology                           Gymnastics
Marissa O'Meally     Business Administration              Lacrosse
Lauren Hein          Integrative Biology                  Soccer
Lindsey Ziegenhirt   Psychology                           Softball
Shelley Harper       Integrative Biology                  Swimming & Diving
Jana Juricova        Political Economy                    Tennis
Nicole Larson        Economics                            Track & Field
Robin Rostratter     Media Studies and Spanish            Volleyball
Briana Lippert       Integrative Biology                  Water Polo