CEHD News

Three CEHD student athletes were selected to receive the 2007-08 Big East Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award.

The awards are given to one student-athlete in each BIG EAST sport based on academic credentials, athletic accolades or performances and volunteer service to the community. Kristi Cunningham, Steven Hnat and Tarah McKay were among the 21 winners of this year’s award.

Kristi Cunningham is an exercise science/pre-nursing major from Gallatin, TN and carries a 3.806 cumulative GPA. The three-year starter and 2008 team co-captain led the softball team with six home runs and was second on the team with 32 runs scored. She was an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV second team selection and earned the 2008 UofL Women4Women/Anthem Leadership Award.

Steven Hnat is an exercise science/sports medicine major from Floyd Knobs, IN and has a 3.564 cumulative GPA through his first three seasons at UofL. He won the 2007 BIG EAST indoor shot put title, is a two-time BIG EAST shot put runner-up and a five-time BIG EAST medalist in the shot put. Hnat is also the school record holder in both the indoor and outdoor shot put.

Tarah McKay is an exercise science/sport medicine major from St. Clements, Ont., and carries a 4.0 cumulative GPA after two seasons at UofL. She advanced to the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 1,500m run for her first ever appearance at the outdoor national championships and she finished eighth at the Canadian Olympic Team Trials in the 1,500m earlier this month. McKay is the school record holder in the 1,500m and as a freshman, she became the first UofL woman ever to advance and compete at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. She is also a two-time All-BIG EAST and All-Region performer in cross country.

The information above is an excerpt from an article featured in the 2008 Summer issue of UofL Magazine.