Seventeen UCSB student-athletes were honored at a special reception ceremony this past Monday evening for their continued achievement and success in academics. The event — hosted by Peter and Gerd Jordano, of Jordano’s, the food and beverage com- pany — marked the 25th year that the Jordanos have collaborated with UCSB athletics to celebrate the stu- dent side of Gaucho student-athletes.

“We have great professors, and we attract wonderful students all the time,” Peter Jordano said. “We have success in athletics and we have suc- cess in the classroom. Our university does a good job to combine the two, and the students can then grow as individuals.”

Each student-athlete honored at the ceremony had a total GPA of over

3.2, with many holding marks of 3.5 or better. One male and one female athlete from each sport represented the best academic marks on each team, and all combined for a total average GPA of 3.56.

The Golden Eagle Ring award is the coveted prize for the male and the female student-athlete each year who maintain the highest total GPA of all student-athletes at the cer- emony. This year’s ring award win- ners were women’s basketball junior forward Kirsten Tilleman and men’s basketball junior guard Kyle Boswell. Boswell’s 3.75 GPA and Tilleman’s 3.96 GPA were the highest of all male and female athletes this season.

“That’s amazing because how do you study and work out, train and play games, and still have more suc- cess in the classroom than the average student?” Jordano said. “To me, that’s success; when you can achieve both ways.” 2012 Golden Eagle Honorees

Men’s Basketball – Jr. Kyle Boswell: 3.75 GPA Women’s Basketball – Jr. Kirsten Tilleman: 3.96 GPA Baseball – So. Luke Swenson: 3.38 GPA Women’s Cross Country – Jr. Ashley Beechan: 3.28 GPA Men’s Soccer – Sr. MachaelDavid: 3.26 GPA Women’s Soccer – Sr. Alyssa Oldham: 3.83 GPA

Men’s Tennis – Sr. Mathieu Forget: 3.60 GPA Women’s Tennis – Sr. Sofia Novak: 3.38 GPA Men’s Track & Field – Sr. Mike Larocca: 3.30 GPA Women’s Track & Field – Sr. Breanne Strenkowski: 3.43 GPA

Men’s Volleyball – So. Matt Silver: 3.32 GPA Women’s Volleyball – Jr. Erica Lau: 3.44 GPA

Men’s Swimming & Diving – Sr. Chris Peterson: 3.51 GPA Women’s Swimming & Diving – Sr. Sasza Lohrey: 3.90 GPA

Men’s Water Polo – Sr. Geng Wang: 3.72 GPA Women’s Water Polo – Sr. Katie Zakula: 3.82 GPA Softball – So. Andriana Collins: 3.68 GPA

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