WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- A total of 42 students earned Scholar Athlete honors at Whitman College for the 1998-99 academic year. The honor is given to athletes who letter in at least one varsity sport, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher, and receive a favorable recommendation from the coaching staff.
Lee Coleman, a retired swim coach and professor of physical education, began the Whitman Scholar Athlete program in the spring of 1985 (click here for a year-by-year listing of past Whitman Scholar Athletes).
"It is very appropriate to honor those athletes who are exceptional students," Coleman said. "This is what college athletics should be all about."
Three Whitman seniors were named Scholar Athletes this year for the fourth time in their four seasons at the college. They are swimmer Cindy Jo Allen and tennis players Clifford Mah and Haroon Ullah.
Tyson Ayers, who played on the men's soccer team and worked as an athletic trainer, was honored for having the highest grade point average among this year's Scholar Athletes. The students with the five highest grade point averages, in fact, were singled out for special recognition. The other four are cross country skier Jessica Jern, swimmer Art Riddle, cross country runner Jamin Asay, and baseball player Ryan Toivola.
A complete list of the 1998-99 Whitman Scholar Athletes follows below.
Cindy Jo Allen (swimming), senior economics major; 1995 graduate of Coeur d'Alene High School, Coeur d'Alene, ID; daughter of Robert & Susan Allen, Hayden Lake, ID. Allen set a new Whitman school record in the 100-yard butterfly event, breaking a record that had stood for 15 years.
Jamin Asay (cross country running), freshman, 1998 graduate of McNary High School, Keizer, OR; son of Frederick Vernon & Jo Marie Asay, Keizer, OR.
Ethan Aumann (cross country running), freshman, 1998 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Portland, OR; son of Roger & Cathy Aumann, Portland, OR.
Tyson Ayers (soccer, student athletic trainer), freshman, 1998 graduate of Juanita High School, Kirkland, WA; son of Robert & Mari Ayers, Bothell, WA.
Heather Barr (track & field), sophomore chemistry/environmental studies major; 1997 graduate of The Athenian School, Danville, CA; daughter of John & Suzanne Barr, Orinda, CA.
Katherine Berger (swimming), junior chemistry/biology major; 1996 graduate of Bremerton High School, Bremerton, WA; daughter of Douglas & Cheryl Berger, Bremerton, WA. Berger earned Scholar Athlete honors for the third time in her three years at Whitman.
Merrill Bevan (baseball), senior Asian Studies major; 1995 graduate of Sehome High School, Bellingham, WA; son of Glen Bevan, Bellingham, WA. Bevan, a three-year starter on the men's baseball team, capped his senior season by earning all-conference honorable mention recognition. He hit .331 and led his team in runs batted in. He also earned Whitman's Most Valuable Player Award on offense. Bevan missed his junior baseball season while studying overseas.
Ben Boynton (soccer), sophomore anthropology major; 1997 graduate of Midland School, Los Olivos, CA; son of Sara Murray, Pasadena, CA, and Will B. Boynton, of Salt Lake City, UT.
Scott Burns (soccer), freshman, 1998 graduate of Enterprise High School, Redding, CA; son of Richard & Mary Burns, Redding, CA.
Joel Byersdorfer (cross country running), freshman, 1998 graduate of Issaquah High School, Issaquah, WA; son of Gregory & Deborah Byersdorfer, Issaquah, WA.
Alison Chisholm (soccer), freshman, 1998 graduate of Lake City High School, Coeur d'Alene, ID; daughter of Donald & Robin Chisholm, Coeur d'Alene, ID.
Ryan Cooper (tennis), senior economics major; 1995 graduate of Everett High School, Everett, WA; son of Thomas & Sue Cooper, Everett, WA.
Megan Corazza (cross country skiing), freshman, 1997 graduate of Homer High School, Homer, AK; daughter of Rich & Sonja Corazza, Homer, AK.
Kim Evanger (basketball), freshman, 1998 graduate of Issaquah High School, Issaquah, WA; daughter of Marc & Heidi Evanger, Issaquah, WA.
Cameron Evans (basketball), senior biology major; 1992 graduate of Union High School, Roosevelt, UT; son of Keith & Sharon Evans, Roosevelt, UT. Evans, a two-year starter on the men's basketball team, earned all-conference honorable mention recognition for the second consecutive year. He was the fourth-leading rebounder in the Northwest Conference.
Alicia Fine-Morrison (cross country skiing), sophomore psychology major; 1997 graduate of Liberty Bell High School, Winthrop, WA; daughter of Bruce Morrison & Laura Fine, Twisp, WA.
Valarie Hamm (volleyball), sophomore history major; 1997 graduate of Port Townsend High School, Port Townsend, WA; daughter of Jeffery & Diane Hamm, Port Townsend, WA.
Gene Hansen (golf), senior history major; 1995 graduate of Walla Walla High School, Walla Walla, WA; son of Norman & Margaret Hansen, Waitsburg, WA.
Todd Hendry (basketball), junior mathematics major; 1996 graduate of Monroe High School, Monroe, WA; son of Arnold & Mary Hendry, Snohomish, WA. Hendry, a two-year starter on the men's basketball team, was the second-leading scorer in the Northwest Conference and was named to the all-conference second team.
Jessica Jern (cross country skiing), freshman, 1998 graduate of Jackson Hole High School, Jackson, WY; daughter of Ken & Sherrie Jern, Jackson, WY 83002.
Paula Johnson (basketball), senior foreign languages & literatures (Spanish) major; 1995 graduate of Billings High School, Billings, MT; daughter of Thomas & Judy Johnson, Billings, MT.
Heather Kelly (swimming), sophomore biology major; 1997 graduate of Davis High School, Davis, CA; daughter of Paul & Marilyn Kelly, Davis, CA.
Dustin Lane (golf), sophomore politics major; 1997 graduate of Bellevue High School, Bellevue, WA; son of Bruce & Denise Allen, Medina, WA.
Katherine Leitzell (swimming), freshman, 1998 graduate of Garfield High School, Seattle, WA; daughter of James & Siri Leitzell, Seattle, WA.
Shannon Lipscomb (student athletic trainer), junior psychology major; 1996 graduate of Sprague High School, Salem, OR; daughter of Paul & Donna Lipscomb, Salem, OR. Lipscomb earned Scholar Athlete honors for the third time in her three year at Whitman. She competed on the women's alpine ski team her first two years and then worked as a student athletic trainer during the past year.
Clifford Mah (tennis), senior chemistry/biology major; 1995 graduate of Benson Polytech High School, Portland, OR; son of Ken & Sylvia Mah, Portland, OR.
Wren McNally (soccer), sophomore Asian Studies major; 1997 graduate of Boulder High School, Boulder, CO; daughter of John & Valery McNally, Boulder, CO.
Emily Nelson (cross country skiing), senior English major; 1996 graduate of Robert Service High School, Anchorage, AK; daughter of James & Martha Nelson, Anchorage, AK.
Kristen Ott (soccer), senior biology major; 1995 graduate of Tigard High School, Tigard, OR; daughter of Gareth & Anne Ott, Tigard, OR. Ott, a starter on the women's soccer team, received the Whitman Coaches Award at the end of the season.
Art Riddle (swimming), freshman, 1998 graduate of Hillsboro High School, Hillsboro, OR; son of Charles Thomas & Stephanie Kane Riddle, Hillsboro, OR.
Akshay Shetty (tennis), senior economics major, 1994 graduate of St. Joseph School, Mithibai, India; son of Anand & Usha Shetty, Bombay, India. Shetty was one of the top players on the men's tennis team, which won its first 11 Northwest Conference matches of the season before losing its final match of the spring. Shetty and his doubles partner, Haroon Ullah, were a perfect 10-0 against conference opponents and 15-4 on the season.
Matt Silver (baseball), freshman chemistry/geology major; 1998 graduate of Bishop Odowd High School, Oakland, CA 94605; son of Franklin & Elizabeth Silver, Oakland, CA.
Ryan Toivola (baseball), freshman, 1998 graduate of Inglemoor High School, Kenmore, WA; son of Harri & Cheryl Toivola, Kenmore, WA.
Rob Tonnsen (soccer), junior geology major; 1996 graduate of Billings High School, Billings, MT; son of John & Loretta Tonnsen, Billings, MT. Tonnsen was recognized as a Scholar Athlete for the third time in three seasons. He also received the Whitman Coaches Award at the end of the soccer season.
Hana Tysver (golf), freshman, 1998 graduate of Bothell High School, Bothell, WA; daughter of James & Carrell Tysver, Bothell, WA.
Lars Tysver (cross country running, track & field), sophomore mathematics major; 1997 graduate of Bothell High School, Bothell, WA; son of James & Carrell Tysver, Bothell, WA.
Heidi Shelton (alpine skiing), freshman, 1998 graduate of Wood River High School, Hailey, ID; daughter of Gary & Katherine Shelton, Ketchum, ID. Shelton placed 12th in the giant slalom event at the national championships.
Marc Sidel (track & field), sophomore Asian Studies major; 1997 graduate of Bellarmine College Preparatory, San Jose, CA; son of Joel & Carol Sidel, Los Altos, CA.
Haroon Ullah (tennis), senior politics major; 1995 graduate of Richland High School, Richland, WA; son of Muhammed & Zarfashan Ullah, Richland, WA. Ullah was one of the top players on the men's tennis team, which won its first 11 Northwest Conference matches of the season before losing its final match of the spring. Ullah and his doubles partner, Akshay Shetty, were a perfect 10-0 against conference opponents and 15-4 on the season. Ullah earned Scholar Athlete honors in each of his four years at Whitman.
Will Washington (basketball), senior biology major; 1994 graduate of West Seattle High School, Seattle, WA; son of Willie & Juanita Washington, Seattle, WA. Washington, a two-year starter on the men's basketball team, led the Northwest Conference in rebounding and was its fourth-leading scorer. He capped his senior season by earning a spot on the all-conference first team.
Katie Wilson (alpine skiing), freshman, 1998 graduate of Wood River High School, Hailey, ID; daughter of David & Trish Wilson, Ketchum, ID.
Dana Wong (alpine skiing), freshman, 1998 graduate of York House School, Vancouver, British Columbia; daughter of Garry Evan & Lynn Elisabeth Wong, British Columbia, Canada. Wong, who placed ninth in the giant slalom and 16th in the slalom at the national championships, also received Academic All-American honors.