April 5, 2000

LAS VEGAS - The UNLV Department of Athletics honored more than 50 student-athletes for their academic achievements at the 21st Annual UNLV Scholar-Athlete Luncheon on Wednesday at the Richard Tam Alumni Center.

Seniors Ryan Bledsoe and Donna Wu captured the event's top honors as they were named UNLV's Most Outstanding Male and Female Scholar-Athlete, respectively. Bledsoe, a goalkeeper for the men's soccer team, is in graduate school at UNLV and recorded a 4.00 GPA in economics last semester. Wu, who competes on the women's swimming team, turned in a 3.89 GPA in hotel administration.

UNLV also announced the top GPA Award winners in each sport and honored the members of the Rebel Academic Top 30 and selections to the Fall Academic All-Mountain West Conference and Academic All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation teams, which were released earlier this year.

UNLV Most Outstanding Male Scholar AthleteRyan Bledsoe, Sr., Men's Soccer, Las Vegas, NV

UNLV Most Outstanding Female Scholar AthleteDonna Wu, Sr., Women's Swimming, Richmond, B.C., Canada

2000 UNLV Top GPA Award WinnersCharelle Ainslie, Sr., Softball, Melbourne, AustraliaJeremy Anderson, Sr., Men's Golf, Winter Park, Fla.Clay Belding, Jr., Baseball, Reno, Nev.Ryan Bledsoe, Sr., Men's Soccer, Las Vegas, Nev.Linda Frohlich, So., Women's Basketball, Oldendorf, GermanyVeronica Goude, Sr., Women's Tennis, Stockholm, SwedenKaspars Kambala, Jr., Men's Basketball, Riga, LatviaMarni Polakow, So., Women's Soccer, Buffalo Grove, Ill.Michael Short, So., Men's Swimming, San Jose, Calif.Toby Smeltzer, Fr., Football, Las Vegas, Nev.Heather Steadham, Sr., Women's Track and Field, Moapa, Nev.Angie Sylvas, Sr., Volleyball, Las Vegas, Nev.Adam Thurgood, Jr., Men's Tennis, Salt Lake City, UtahDonna Wu, Sr., Women's Swimming, Richmond, B.C., Canada