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Issued: November 1, 2005

UW-EAU CLAIRE'S OVANIN AND UW-WHITEWATER'S KIELAR NAMED WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY CO-SCHOLAR-ATHLETES

MADISON - University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Jane-Marie Ovanin and UW-Whitewater's Megan Kielar have been named 2005 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Cross Country Co-Scholar-Athletes, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Ovanin, a senior from Amherst, Wis., is majoring in sculpting with an emphasis in metalsmithing and is minoring in art history, while maintaining a 3.92 grade point average. She is a two-time Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic choice, as well as a three-time selection to the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Ovanin has been named to UW-Eau Claire's Dean's List and Honor Roll numerous semesters and has been the recipient of five separate academic scholarships.

Ovanin, a team captain the last two years, was the conference runner up at the 2002 league meet and received All-Midwest Region honors during the 2001, 2002 and 2004 seasons. She was also voted her team's MVP during the 2001 and 2002 campaigns.

Ovanin is president of UW-Eau Claire's Art Student Association and serves as secretary and social chair of her institution's chapter of the Golden Key International Honor Society. She has served as a mentor for freshmen students and has worked as a tutor for America Reads and a clerical worker in the campus Academic Skills Center.

Kielar, a senior from McHenry, Ill. (West H.S.), carries a 3.91 grade point average, while majoring in elementary education with a minor in Spanish. She is two-time Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic selection and a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Kielar has been named to UW-Whitewater's Dean's List all seven semesters and has been the recipient of academic scholarships.

Kielar recently finished seventh at the WIAC championships to claim all-WIAC first team honors after securing second team status a year ago. She qualified for the NCAA Division III championships last season and is a two-time member of the All-Midwest Region team. Kielar is a three-time winner of UW-Whitewater's Marty Van Steenderen Sportswoman of the Year award and was voted her team's MVP in 2003 and 2004.

Kielar is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key Honor Societies, as well as a member of the Spanish Club and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire's Rachel Anderson, UW-La Crosse's Amy Belleba, Ariel Elizabeth Perkins and Julia Rudd, UW-Oshkosh's Jessica Linberts, UW-Platteville's Stephanie Martin, UW-River Falls' Erica Berrisford, UW-Stevens Point's Jenna Mitchler and Teresa Stanley.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman, who 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.

- Matt Stanek, WIAC Sports Information Director -

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