RELEASED:  Wednesday, November 19, 2008

UW-Stout’s Pomputis Named Football Scholar-Athlete

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Jake Pomputis has been named the 2008 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Football Scholar-Athlete.

Pomputis, a senior from Owen, Wis. (Owen-Withee), is carries a 3.46 grade point average and is majoring in graphic communication management.  He is a three-time recipient of UW-Stout’s Chancellor’s Award and a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.  Pomputis has been recognized on UW-Stout’s Dean’s List every semester and received the Pagel Scholarship for academic excellence in graphic communication management.

He secured All-WIAC first team honors this season after claiming honorable mention recognition a year ago.  Pomputis, a team captain, was named his team’s Most Improved Player in 2006 and Most Valuable Defensive Back in 2008.

Pomputis is a member of the Stout Typographical Society, has worked with the University's food drive efforts and volunteers with the UW-Stout Football in the Schools reading program at area elementary schools.

Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were:  UW-Eau Claire’s Paul Bielmeier (Sr., Edgar, Wis.), Matt Ebner (Sr., Mindoro, Wis./Melrose-Mindoro), Paul Mirr (Sr., Eau Claire, Wis./Regis), Tyler Moy (Sr., Mondovi, Wis.) and Dan Puls (Sr., Onalaska, Wis.), UW-La Crosse’s Chris Johnson (Sr., Amery, Wis.) and Drew Kiefer (Sr., Abbotsford, Wis.), UW-Oshkosh’s Dieter Juedes (Sr., Sheboygan Falls, Wis.), UW-Platteville’s Morgan May (Sr., Elkhorn, Wis.), UW-River Falls’ Jamie Bisch (Sr., Roberts, Wis./St. Croix Central) and UW-Whitewater’s Mike Sherman (Sr., Oconomowoc, Wis./Kettle Moraine).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger, who served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference from July, 1971 - July, 1993.

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.