Bowling Green State University Athletics
Lichtensteiger, Swiger Earn Medals of Honor at Student-Athlete Services Banquet
April 22, 2008 | General
April 22, 2008
Written by Jack Carle, Sentinel Sports Editor - In its effort to pursue excellence in athletics and academics, Bowling Green's athletics department has established a new award.
The inaugural Falcon Medal of Honor award was presented Saturday evening (April 19) to Kory Lichtensteiger and Stephanie Swiger at Bowling Green's athletic honors annual recognition ceremony. Over 500 people were in attendance.
The new award will be presented each year to one male and one female senior athlete who exemplify the characteristics of scholarship, athletics, service and leadership.
"It's very special," Lichtensteiger said, an all-conference football player for the Falcons who graduated last December with a 3.56 grade-point-average in criminal justice. "It's different from all the awards I've gotten in the past because I've never really gotten honored in front of all the other student-athletes at BG.
"It means that people other than the football team are thinking about me and recognizing me for some of the things I've achieved in my career here," Lichtensteiger added. He's awaiting the results of this weekend's National Football League draft.
A standout volleyball player, Swiger has a 3.78 GPA in political science. She's planning to attend law school at Ohio Northern University.
"I'm overwhelmed. I'm so deeply honored. I have a tremendous respect for the athletic department and especially for all the student-athletes who are here," Swiger said. "In no way did it come from my own doings. I had a lot of great support from my teammates, my coaches and my family.
"As a student-athlete we are trained to multi-task and to really give back. We're blessed with so much, it's only our duty to give back ... To be recognized for it is very humbling."
Whitney Taylor, basketball, and Kevin Huelsman, football, received the senior scholar-athlete of the year awards. Taylor has a 3.88 GPA in visual communications technology and Huelsman graduated in December with a 3.82 GPA in management information systems.
Lindsey Jonkhoff, women's golf, with a 3.88 GPA in psychology and Swiger were the other female finalists for the senior award. Drew Nystrom, football, with a 3.55 GPA in biology, and Lichtensteiger, were the other male finalists.
Hayley Wiemer, softball, and Josh Scheidler, football, were the Falcon Club junior scholar-athlete award winners. Both have 4.00 GPAs, Wiemer in secondary education and Scheidler in criminal justice.
Kylie Korsnack, from Bowling Green High School, and Stefanie Menoff were the other junior female finalists. Korsnack, women's cross-country, has a 3.89 GPA in secondary education. Menoff, women's tennis, has a 3.92 GPA in early childhood education.
Ryan Davis, men's soccer, with a 3.78 GPA in exercise science, and Marc Larson, men's basketball, with a 3.94 GPA in mechanical design, were the other male finalists.
Athletes from all 18 sports at Bowling Green, who have a GPA of 3.00 or better were recognized during the program.
A total of 14 of the athletes recognized are from Wood County - Korsnack and Barbara Powers, cross-country, Paige Lane and Andrea Pereira de Almeida, track and field, Marissa Saneholtz, gymnastics, Chelsey Meek and Elizabeth Simon, both volleyball, Zach Akenberger, football, and John Powers, golf, all from Bowling Green High School; Kevin Leady, baseball, and Craig Rutherford, football, from Eastwood High School; Allison Vallas, softball, and Rachael Ross, soccer, from Perrysburg High School; and Joe Jakubowski, basketball, from Rossford.
In other awards announced Saturday:
¥ Women's cross-country was honored for the highest women's team GPA with a 3.65;
¥ Hockey, was recognized for the highest GPA for a men's team with a 2.90;
¥ Women's basketball, earned the most-improved women's team GPA at 3.40;
¥ Baseball, had the most improved men's team GPA with a 2.89;
¥ Brian Leaver, an All-American football player for the Falcons, was named a distinguished alumnus; and
¥ Dr. Donna Trautman, from the college of technology, received the distinguished service award.
