RELEASED:  Wednesday, May 12, 2010

UW-Whitewater’s LeBeau Named Softball Scholar-Athlete

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Amanda LeBeau has been named the 2010 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Softball Scholar-Athlete.

LeBeau, a senior from Worth, Ill. (Richards), is majoring in accounting and finance and carries a 3.65 grade point average.  She was selected to the 2009 and 2010 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Softball Teams.  LeBeau is a two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar-Athlete and three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.  She has been recognized on UW-Whitewater’s Dean’s List six semesters and is a three-year recipient of the school’s Academic Achievement Award.  LeBeau was chosen UW-Whitewater’s Chancellor Scholar-Athlete in 2009 and has received academic scholarships.

A two-time NFCA All-Great Lakes Region performer, LeBeau claimed All-WIAC honorable mention status this year after securing first team accolades in 2008 and 2009.  In 2008, she established a single-season school record with 13 home runs.   LeBeau ranks in the top 20 on UW-Whitewater’s career list for hits, doubles, home runs, RBI and batting average.  She has been a member of two WIAC championship teams and in 2007, she received UW-Whitewater’s Rookie of the Year trophy.

LeBeau is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma and Golden Key International Honor Societies.  She has served as a tutor for Project Assist on UW-Whitewater’s campus and a playground supervisor at Whitewater Elementary School.

Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were:  UW-Eau Claire’s Katie Stalker (Madison, Wis./La Follette), UW-La Crosse’s Cara Salm (Sr., Kimberly, Wis.), UW-Oshkosh’s Amie Heinzelman (Sr., Monroe, Wis.), UW-Stevens Point’s Melissa Wenig (Sr., Oshkosh, Wis./West) and UW-Stout’s Jenna Johnson (Sr., Menomonie, Wis.).

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.  In addition, she must be in her last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

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