Gopher Academics

McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Danielle Mousseau

Wed, 14 May 2008 16:23:26 -0500

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending May 9th is Danielle Mousseau from the women’s tennis team.

Coach Tyler Thomson is extremely proud of the accomplishments that Mousseau has achieved in both her academic and athletic career at the University of Minnesota. “Danielle is an extremely hard worker and gives her all in everything that she does,” Thomson said. “She deserves this recognition and she will be missed after she graduates and leaves the program next week.”

McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Lauren Pockl

Mon, 05 May 2008 11:07:33 -0500

Coach Lisa Bernstein believes that Pockl is a great role model for all student-athletes.

“Lauren is a true team player. She also works hard in the classroom and on the softball field,” Bernstein said. “She takes a lot of pride in representing the University of Minnesota and we are proud to have her represent our team.”

McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Hassan Mead

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:53:07 -0500

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending April 25th is Hassan Mead from the men’s cross country team.

Coach Steve Plasencia believes that Hassan knows how important education is for his future. “Hassan Mead has shown maturity and strong effort during his first year here in all areas necessary to be a successful as a student-athlete,” Plasencia said. “He goes above and beyond to make sure he is fulfilling all the requests from his instructors, academic counselors, and coaches.”

McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Clayton Rask

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:05:35 -0500

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending April 18th is Clayton Rask a member of the men’s golf team.

Coach Brad James believes that Rask epitomizes what a student-athlete represents. According to James, “Clayton has outstanding work ethic on and off the golf course. It has been great having him a part of the Gopher golf program.”

Academic Counselor Chelsie Schafer has been impressed by Clayton’s interests in areas outside of athletics, his traditional academic pursuits, and his commitment to helping to improve society.

McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Jessica Strong

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:06:46 -0500

Each week the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending April 11th is Jessica Strong from the women’s track team.

Coach Matt Bingle believes that Strong is very deserving of the honor. “Jessica is a great individual who works very hard and is very determined and organized,” Bingle said. “She is very committed to being a good student and it shows.”

McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Anthony Jacobs

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:07:30 -0500

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending April 4th is Anthony Jacobs from the football team.

Coach Tim Cross believes that Jacobs has just begun to create a positive impression at the University of Minnesota. “Anthony is a fine young man,” Cross said. “I believe he can achieve any goal that he sets his mind on accomplishing.”

Jacobs is a freshman from Northfield, Minnesota.

McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Logan U’u

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:57:07 -0500

Coach John Butler has been impressed with the tremendous improvement that Logan has shown from his initial enrollment at Minnesota last year until now.

“Logan has drastically changed his approach to his academic workload in terms of his preparation, his discipline and his approach to his studies. This has had a considerable positive effect on his academic success,” Butler said. “He has also taken advantage of all of the resources available to him and used them to his benefit.”

McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Meredith McCarthy

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:15:31 -0600

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending February 22th is Meredith McCarthy from the women’s swimming and diving team.

Coach Terry Nieszner is proud of all of Meredith’s accomplishments.

“Meredith is an outstanding student-athlete who sets very high goals for herself in every aspect of her life. She then proceeds to work towards those goals - giving 110%,” Nieszner said. “She is an All-American first team both athletically and academically. Meredith is a true GOLDEN Gopher.”

McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Blake Bowers

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:55:06 -0600

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending February 8th is Blake Bowers from the men’s track and field team.

Academic Counselor Robert Simon is very proud of Blake and his academic accomplishments which were achieved under very difficult circumstances.

“Although Blake was in a serious car accident before his arrival on campus, he was able to overcome his obstacles and earn a 3.645 GPA during the fall semester,” Simon said. “By utilizing all of the McNamara Academic Center’s resources, Blake turned an unfortunate situation into a resounding success.”

McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Sydney Liles

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 10:03:45 -0600

Coach Kris Wessinger believes that Sydney deserves to be honored.

“Sydney has done a wonderful job with her academics,” Wessinger said. “She really does an excellent time balancing her time with academics, athletics and also is very involved with the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.”

McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Dino Bilankov

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:24:26 -0600

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending January 25th is Dino Bilankov from the men’s tennis team.

Coach Geoff Young has been impressed with the energy Dino gives to both his academics and to tennis and how it has rubbed off on his teammates.

“Dino is the type of guy where anything that he is involved in, he wants it to be the best. He wants to get the most out of everything that he does, “Young said. “That attitude is contagious for our team.”

McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Yuri Nagai

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:06:06 -0600

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending December 14th is Yuri Nagai from the women’s gymnastics team.

Coach Meg Stephenson is proud of Nagai’s efforts during her first semester at the U.

“We’re so impressed with Yuri’s academic success, especially because English is not her native language, “Stephenson said. “She sets a great example of how to use the MAC resources not only for international student-athletes, but for all student-athletes.”

McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Sara Johnson

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:17:32 -0600

Each week the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending November 30th is Sara Johnson from the soccer team.

Coach Mikki Denney Wright is proud of the Johnson’s work ethic.

“Sara is a great example of what you can accomplish through hard work and perseverance,“ Denney Wright said. “She has been a tremendous teammate and a valuable member of our program. We are so proud of her academic achievements.”

McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Jamal Abu-Shamala

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:01:06 -0600

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending November 16th is Jamal Abu-Shamala from the men’s basketball team.

Coach Tubby Smith believes that Jamal is deserving of the recognition.

"Jamal is an extremely conscientious student-athlete. He is working very hard in the classroom and on the basketball court," Smith said. "I would like to commend and congratulate him on this award."

McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week: Sarah Krueger

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 16:51:49 -0600

Each week, the McNamara Academic Center for Student-Athletes (MAC) will recognize one University of Minnesota student-athlete for his or her academic achievements. The winner of the McNamara Student-Athlete of the Week for the week ending November 9th is Sarah Krueger from the rowing team.

Coach Wendy Davis has noticed how quickly academics have become a priority in Krueger’s college career.

“Sarah is a wonderful example of what can happen when an incredible athlete decides she wants to be an incredible student as well,“ Davis said. “She sees the advantages that come with being excellent in both worlds.”