Seniors Sigrid Aas of Alta, Norway and Paul Austin of International Falls, MN have been named the 2004 University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanook Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Aas and Austin received their awards during the UAF Student Awards Program last Saturday at the Wood Center Ballroom on campus.
Aas, a journalism major, just completed her career on the women's cross country and skiing teams, while Austin, a mechanical engineering major, just finished four seasons on the men's ice hockey team.
"Sigrid and Paul represent everything that's right about college athletics today," said Dr. Cory Schwartz, Director of Athletics. "Not only are they exceptional athletes on their respective teams, but they also excel in the classroom. Sigrid and Paul are certainly role models for all student-athletes and, I am sure, have bright futures ahead of them."
In the classroom, Aas has a cumulative grade point average of 3.78 and finished each of the last two semesters with a perfect 4.0 GPA. She has been named the Chancellor's List four times and to the Dean's List one time. Austin has a 3.89 cumulative GPA and has also finished each of the last two semesters with a 4.0 GPA. He has been named to the Chancellor's List four times and to the Dean's List three times.
Aas capped off her career as a Nanook this year with a spectacular senior campaign. She became the first Nanook skier to ever win two NCAA individual titles when she won the Women's 5-Kilometer Freestyle and Women's 15-Kilometer Classic at the 2004 NCAA Skiing Championships. Aas' effort helped the Nanooks finish 10th in the overall team standings, marking the third consecutive season UAF finished at least 10th at the NCAA finals.
"Sigrid is one of the best athletes to have ever walked in the doors at UAF. In terms of student-athletes, she has to be one of the best ever," said former UAF Cross- Country & Skiing coach Bill McDonnell. "I expected a lot of her, but I never expected her to reach the heights she has reached during her four years on the team. She has very clear goals and is motivated by the desire to complete those goals. I am very proud to have had the opportunity to coach her."
During her time with the Nanooks, Aas qualified for three consecutive trips to the NCAA Championships and earned All-America status each year. Aas also qualified this season to represent the Norwegian National Ski Team at the Stockholm World Cup Classic Sprint.
Though Austin didn't score a lot of goals for UAF, his impact on the Nanooks was far-reaching. The left wing standout was a solid factor on the ice and in the locker-room. Austin scored his first collegiate goal this past season, helping the Nanooks to a 4-1 victory over Nebraska-Omaha. He also earned an assist in UAF's 4-2 victory over Ferris State.
"Pauly is a machine. He is just a physical specimen. He's in great condition and definitely works hard. He's one of the most natural athletes as well," said Guy Gadowsky, UAF Ice Hockey Coach. "As good of an athlete as Pauly is, he's that good of a student. Pauly is a great representative of not only our program, but the university as well and everyone who comes in contact with him is that much better for it."
Academically, Austin has been exceptional. He has earned recognition on the Central Collegiate Hockey Association All-Academic Team each of his four years with the Nanooks and captured the Dirk Anderson UAF Hockey Scholar-Athlete Award as a junior in 2003.
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