March
8, 2007
Release courtesy of Dave Blanchard, Luther College sports information
director
DECORAH,
IOWA . . . Christina Gaard, a 2003 graduate of Decorah
High School, was one of two women’s basketball players
to be selected by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association
(WBCA) to receive the 2007 WBCA Scholarship Award. The other
was Karen Thies of the University of Nebraska, Omaha.
This
award is presented annually to two women’s basketball
players in any of the five WBCA collegiate divisions (NCAA Division
I, II, III, NAIA and Junior College/Community College) who have
demonstrated outstanding commitment to the sport of women’s
basketball and to academic excellence. The scholarships enable
deserving student-athletes to complete their undergraduate degrees
or to begin work on advanced degrees. Each award is in the amount
of $1,000.
“Christina
and Karen are student-athletes who stand above the rest both
academically and athletically," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass.
"These exceptional student-athletes are deserving of this
year’s WBCA Scholarship Award for their efforts on and
off the court. I wish them the best as they continue their future
career endeavors.”
Christina
is a two-time first team all-Iowa Conference performer, three-time
Academic All-Conference honoree, and just recently scored her
1,000th career point, becoming the ninth Luther women’s
basketball player to do so. She is the second leading scorer
on Luther’s Iowa Conference championship team, helping
the Norse reach the sectionals (round of 16) of the NCAA Division
III National Basketball Tournament.
A
member of the Dean’s List since 2004, Gaard is Biology
major with a Spanish minor, with an overall grade point average
of 3.68.
She
has also been involved with the Luther College Health Science
Club, Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Spanish translator
for the Decorah Food Pantry, and Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity
member working with the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity.
Gaard
is not only a four-year letter winner in basketball, she is
also a two-sport athlete lettering for the Norse softball team
three times, and will serve as a co-captain this season.
During
her softball career she has been a third-team all-region selection
(2006) and twice named National Fastpitch Coaches Association
(NFCA) Scholar Athlete (2005, 2006). She was also named to ESPN
the Magazine Academic All-District VII team in 2006.
Gaard
will be formally presented her award during the WBCA Awards
luncheon presented by State Farm and Jostens on Tuesday, April
3, at 12:00 p.m. (ET) in the Crowne Plaza’s Grand Ballroom.
The awards luncheon is part of the 2007 WBCA National Convention
and is held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women’s
Final Four® in Cleveland, Ohio.
Gaard
is the daughter of Rich and Carol Gaard of Decorah, Iowa.
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