RELEASED:  Monday, March 10, 2008

UW-La Crosse’s Clausen and UW-Oshkosh’s Virbitsky Named Women’s Gymnastics Co-Scholar-Athletes

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Kasey Clausen and UW-Oshkosh’s Vanessa Virbitsky have been named 2008 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women’s Gymnastics Co-Scholar-Athletes.

Clausen, a senior from Apple Valley, Minn., is majoring in secondary education with a minor in political science and economics and carries a 3.59 grade point average.  She is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has been recognized on UW-La Crosse’s Dean’s List every semester. 

A two-year team captain, Clausen is a three-time All-WIAC performer and has earned her team’s Most Dedicated Award the last two seasons.  She claimed All-America honors in the vault, uneven bars and all-around in 2005 and was a member of UW-La Crosse’s back-to-back national championship teams in 2005 and 2006.

Clausen is a member of the National Educator’s Association and Amnesty International USA.  In addition, she has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Girl Scouts, Food Shelf and UW-La Crosse’s Peer Run Education Program.

Virbitsky, a senior from Harrisburg, Pa. (Central Dauphin H.S.), maintains a 3.61 grade point average and is double-majoring in political science and journalism.   She has been recognized on her institutions Dean’s List and Honor Roll and is a three-time selection to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.

A two-year team captain, Virbitsky is a four-time All-WIAC recipient.  She was a member of UW-Oshkosh’s national championship team last season and is a four-time All-American, including the 2007 national champion in the vault.

She is a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America and has served a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and the American Cancer Society.  Virbitsky has worked as an assistant in UW-Oshkosh’s Sports Information Office and as a reporter in the school newspaper.

Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were:  UW-Eau Claire’s Kristi Olson (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.) and Staci Solin (Jr., Chippewa Falls, Wis./Chi-Hi), UW-La Crosse’s Jacqueline Schellinger (Sr., Fennimore, Wis.), UW-Whitewater’s Alison Lewis (Sr., Racine, Wis./Horlick), Gustavus Adolphus’ Danielle Berg (Sr., St. Cloud, Minn.) and Kelsie Droogsma (Sr., Elk River, Minn.).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman and sponsored by Hewlett-Packard.  Kruckman served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98.  Prior to this appointment, she functioned as Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from October, 1984 - September, 1996.

In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.