GTE Academic All-American Spring Women's At-Large Team Includes 12 Student Athletes with Perfect Grade-Point Average

STAMFORD, Conn. - - The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced the GTE Academic All-America Spring Women's At-Large Teams today. Of the 31 student-athletes named to the first team, 12 have perfect 4.0 Grade Point Averages (GPA's) for their college careers.

In the University Division, the six are: Maria Abatjoglou of Kansas (tennis), a senior from Charleston, W. Va.; Jill Blankenship of Kentucky (track), a senior from Sycamore, Ill.; Simone Bock of New Mexico (tennis), a senior from Wuerzburg, Germany; Katie Ollendick of Virginia Tech (tennis), a senior from Blacksburg, Va., who was the Division's Team Member of the Year; Rikke Pederson of Northern Arizona (track), a junior from Stenloese, Denmark; and Charity Wachera of West Virginia (track), a senior from Nairobi, Kenya.

The six in the College Division are: Monica Bradley of Drew (lacrosse), a junior from Newton, N.J.; Kelli Brady of Truman St. (tennis), a senior from Jefferson City, Mo.; Misty Campbell of Northwest Missouri St. (track), a senior from St. Joseph, Mo.; Elise Henry of Nebraska-Omaha (track), senior from Council Bluffs, Iowa; Julie Mavity of Abilene Christian (tennis), a junior from Katy, Texas; and Jill Patronagio of Augustana (Ill.) (track), a senior from Coal Valley, Ill. The College Division Team Member of the Year was Rebecca Tucker of SUNY-Brockport (lacrosse), a senior from Scottsville, N.Y.

Of the 31 student-athletes named to the first team, 21 (68 %) had GPA's of at least 3.90 with an average GPA of 3.89.

The GTE Academic All-America Teams are selected by a vote of the 1,800-member CoSIDA. To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Sports information directors nominate eligible athletes from their schools who are named to district teams prior to being voted upon on the national level. CoSIDA has been selecting Academic All-America Teams since 1952.

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Outside the United States, the company serves more than 7 million telecommunications customers. GTE is also a leader in government and defense communications systems and equipment, directories and telecommunications-based information services, and aircraft-passenger telecommunications.

Following is a complete list of the GTE Academic All-America Spring Women's At-Large Teams in the University and College Divisions:

1998 GTE Academic All-America Women's Spring At-Large Teams

University Division First Team

University Division Second Team

University Division Third Team

***GTE Academic All-America Team Member of the Year - University Division

1998 GTE Academic All-America Women's Spring At-Large Teams

College Division First Team

College Division Second Team

College Division Third Team

*** GTE Academic All-America Team Member of the Year - College Division