MADISON, Wis. - UW-Eau Claire's Hannah Mesick (Sr.-Chatfield, Minn.) and UW-La Crosse's Dana Churchill have been named co-recipients of the 2011 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete Award.
Mesick, a senior from Chatfield, Minn., is majoring in political science with a minor in coaching and maintains a 3.85 grade point average. She is a two-time member of the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District Five College Division Women's Basketball Second Team. Mesick has been recognized on UW-Eau Claire's Dean's List and received Academic Distinction. She is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.
A two-time All-WIAC first team selection, Mesick has served as a team captain the past two seasons. She was chosen her team's Rookie of the Year in 2008 and claimed Most Valuable Player honors in 2010. Mesick is a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Societies.
A senior from Sheboygan, Wis. (North), Churchill carries a 3.70 grade point average and is majoring in community health education with a minor in nutrition. She has appeared on UW-La Crosse's Dean's List and is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.
A team captain the past two years, Churchill has claimed All-WIAC first team recognition the past two seasons. She is a member of UW-La Crosse's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Student Nutrition Association. Churchill has served as a volunteer for children with disabilities and worked at the Chancellor's office of her institution since 2007.
Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-La Crosse's Lindsey Litrenta (Sr., Rothschild, Wis./D.C. Everest), UW-Oshkosh's Michelle Boeder (Sr., Oshkosh, Wis./West) and Shelby Churchill (Sr., Sheboygan, Wis./North) and UW-Superior's Kelsey Thingvold (Sr., Crystal, Minn./Robbinsdale Cooper).
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.
