MADISON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Margaret Ho (Sr.-Wisconsin Rapids, Wis./Lincoln) has been named the 2010 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete.
Ho, a senior from Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (Lincoln), is double-majoring in criminal justice and psychology with a minor in anthropology and boasts a 3.95 grade point average. After transferring from Macalaster College (Minn.), Ho earned Dean's List honors in each of her two semesters at UW-Eau Claire and was named to the 2009-10 WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Nationally, Ho received the 2009 United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Individual Award and was was a member of UW-Eau Claire's squad that was named the NCAA Division III USTFCCCA Women's Cross Country Scholar Team of the Year.
Ho placed eighth at this year's WIAC championship to help the Blugolds win their fourth straight league title. A year ago, she claimed All-WIAC second team honors and was named UW-Eau Claire's Most Valuable Newcomer. Ho secured All-America honors with a 33rd-place finish at last season's NCAA Division III Championship to help UW-Eau Claire win its first-ever national crown. She also captured All-Region honors with a 10th-place finish.
Ho is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Criminal Justice Association. She is currently completing an internship with the Wisconsin Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation and has been a Trio/Gear Up mentor.
Also nominated for this year's award were UW-La Crosse's Rachel Boldt (Sr., Stillwater, Minn.), Ellen Kumm (Sr., Wausau, Wis./West), Mary Olson (Sr., Appleton, Wis./North) and Courtney Rucker (Sr., West Salem, Wis.); UW-Oshkosh's Mallory Burk (Sr., Athens, Wis.), Allison Gehl (Sr., Sherwood, Wis./Menasha St. Mary Central) and Cassie Petersen (Sr., Marinette, Wis.); UW-Platteville's Allison Tank (Sr., Dodgeville, Wis.); UW-Stevens Point's Claire Roberts (Sr., Oakfield, Wis./Horace Mann); UW-Stout's Stephanie Libby (Sr., Duluth, Minn./Two Harbors) and Emily Stenzel (Sr., North Mankato, Minn./Mankato West); UW-Superior's Cassey Hoffmann (Sr., Osceola, Wis.); and UW-Whitewater's Katherine Timm (Sr., Brodhead, Wis.) and Katie Wagner (Sr., Germantown, 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.
