Seven named NAIA Scholar-Athletes in women's track and field

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The women's outdoor track and field program at Shawnee State was again impressive from an academic performance standpoint, as seven individuals -- including Juniper Allen, Natalie Brammer, Olivia Cisco, Jessica Elick, Kirsten Evans, Faith Kuhn and Haidyn Wamsley -- all achieved NAIA Scholar-Athlete accolades Wednesday in a release that was put out by national officials.

Evans, who continues to pace the entire team from an academic standpoint, continues to maintain an unblemished 4.0 GPA and has earned over 85 hours of academic credit as an exercise science major in the process. Jessica Elick has added in her own outstanding marks -- posting a 3.95 GPA with exactly 80 hours of credit obtained in health science.

Two additional athletes also hold GPAs of above 3.75 -- as Faith Kuhn, who has earned more than 80 hours of academic credit as a middle childhood education major focusing on science and social studies, has a 3.8, while Haidyn Wamsley has notched a 3.77 GPA with over 115 hours of academic credit as a primary education Pre-K through 5 major.

Three talented distance runners conclude the list -- as Juniper Allen's 3.59 GPA while collecting 75 hours of academic credit in occupational therapy, along with Natalie Brammer's 3.58 GPA and over 90 hours of academic credit with a focus on being an intervention specialist at the K-12 level, and Olivia Cisco's 3.53 with over 80 hours of academic credit in integrated science AYA 7-12 rounding out the NAIA Scholar-Athlete selections.

In addition to the above seven individuals, three others have GPAs of 3.5 or above in senior transfer Jaina Bailey and freshmen newcomers Tashawna Young and Camille Hall. Bailey, who holds a 3.79 in sport management, has passed over 105 hours of credit in her first season at Shawnee State after transferring from Kentucky Christian. Transfers without a previous academic record at Shawnee State aren't eligible for NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors unless they have completed two full semesters/one academic year and 30 academic credits, per NAIA rules.

As for Hall and Young, the duo are freshmen who currently have GPAs of 3.62 and 3.57 after completing a semester's worth of work in the classroom so far. Both will be eligible for NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors next season provided that both maintain GPAs above 3.5 and pass 30 or more hours of academic credit.