Oct. 22, 2002

CAPE GIRARDEAU - Laura VanHoevelaak, a track athlete from Southeast Missouri State University, is one of six individuals selected to receive the prestigious Ohio Valley Conference Scholar Athlete Award for 2002-2003. The award is the highest individual honor that can be earned by OVC student-athletes and is given annually to three men and three women senior athletes for their accomplishments in both the classroom and athletic arena, and because of their leadership qualities.

The six winners were selected from a group of 16 finalists by a vote of the OVC faculty athletics representatives. Honorees must have performed athletically with distinction, have earned at least a 3.25 grade point average, and have conducted themselves in a manner which has brought credit to the student-athlete, his or her institution, intercollegiate athletics and the OVC.

In addition to VanHoevelaak, the other OVC Scholar-Athlete Award winners include volleyball player Rachel Ahlers of Tennessee-Martin, cross country runner Stephen Gordon of Tennessee Tech, track athlete Alan Horton of Eastern Kentucky, golfer David Rella of Eastern Illinois and track athlete Mercy Udoji of Tennessee State.

VanHoevelaak graduated in May with a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average while majoring in exercise science. She is a four-time member of the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll, a three-time Medal of Honor winner and was named second team Verizon Academic All-American.

On the track, VanHoevelaak finished second in the 400-meter hurdles at both the 2001 and 2002 OVC Outdoor Track and Field Championships and was a member of the Southeast 4 X 400-meter relay team that finished second at the 2002 OVC championships. She was the ALL SPORT Classic 400-meter hurdle champion.

VanHoevelaak, originally from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, has served as a volunteer at wellness screening on campus and as a tutor at local elementary schools.

Southeast track athlete Chad Sierman was one of the 16 finalists for the award