Semansky, Phillips named Scholar Athletes

OGDEN, Utah — The Big Sky Conference announced the 2013 Scholar Athlete Award winners today.

Basketball player Rachel Semansky was one of two winners from Montana State University. Semansky, from Highwood, is the daughter of Butte native John Semansky. Her brother, Joe, was a linebacker on Montana Tech’s 2012 Frontier Conference champion football team.

Deer Lodge native David Phillips, who is currently in Oregon to compete in the NCAA Championships, also took home the prestigious award.

Montana Grizzlies Olivia Weber, a golfer, and Mathias Ward, a member of the men’s basketball team, also received the honor.

To qualify for the award, a student-athlete must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale), be a member of the graduating class and/or have completed his or her last year of intercollegiate athletic eligibility, have completed at least two years of intercollegiate competition at the institution, and be a letter winner.

Following is a list of all the Scholar Athletes from the Big Sky Conference.

Eastern Washington University

Cora Kellerman          Volleyball/Track & Field        Electrical Engineering                           La Conner, Wash.

Jeff Minnerly              Football                                 Finance & Electrical Engineering          Spokane, Wash.

Idaho State University

Danielle Downs           Volleyball                              Mass Communications                           Kaysville, Utah

Donovan Henley        Football                                 Psychology                                           Chandler, Ariz. 

The University of Montana

Olivia Weber              Golf                                        Philosophy                                            Idaho Falls, Idaho

Mathias Ward             Men’s Basketball                    Business                                                Gig Harbor, Wash.

Montana State University

Rachel Semansky       Women’s Basketball              Elementary Education                          Highwood, Mont.

David Phillips              Track and Field                     Technology Education                          Deer Lodge, Mont.

University of North Dakota

Kirsten Haas               Track & Field                         International Studies                             Belgrade, Mont.

Brett Cameron           Football                                 Biology                                                  Winnipeg, Manitoba

Northern Arizona University

Fi Connell                   Swimming                              Psychology                                           Port Macquarie, Australia

Jake Hess                   Football                                 Psychology                                           Reno, Nev.

University of Northern Colorado

Lindsey Smith             Softball                                  Psychology                                           Dallas, Texas

Ben Packard               Baseball                                 Biomedical Sciences                              Niwot, Colo.

Portland State University

Anna Bertrand           Softball                                  Organismal Biology                               McMinnville, Ore.

Zach Lubek                Men’s Tennis                          Pre-Med                                                Helena, Mont.

Sacramento State

Janelle Currey            Volleyball                              Mathematics                                          Rocklin, Calif.   

Aliaksandr Malko        Men’s Tennis                          Business Administration                        Minsk, Belarus

Southern Utah University

Caitlin Kennedy          Gymnastics                            Exercise Science                                   Temple, Texas

Michael Clore              Football                                 Political Science                                    Mesa, Ariz.

Weber State University

Laken Hintze              Cross Country/Track & Field          Dental Hygiene                                     Terreton, Idaho

Derek Harrebomee     Track & Field   Public Relations & Advertising                                    Lakeside, Calif.