Jan. 10, 2008

Bay City, Mich. - The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference announced the Fall 2007 winners of the inaugural GLIAC Commissioner's Awards for Academic and Athletics Excellence. Grand Valley State was represented in the initial winners by Chris Hammer (men's cross country) and Katy Tafler (women's soccer). The awards, sponsored by Meijer, Inc., will be presented after the fall, winter and spring athletic seasons to six male and six female student-athletes that excel in both the classroom and on the fields of play.

"These 12 student-athletes exemplify the NCAA Division II philosophy of balance between academics and athletics by excelling in both areas," stated GLIAC Commissioner Tom Brown. "Our conference, along with Meijer, Inc., feel that it is important to recognize these hard-working student-athletes for their outstanding performances in the classroom and on the field of play. The GLIAC would like to thank Meijer for their generous sponsorship of the 2007 Commissioner's Awards and for helping us acknowledge the exceptional accomplishments of this group."

A biomedical science major, Tafler has maintained a 3.83 GPA. A junior forward for the Lakers' women's soccer team, she is a 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American honoree and has been a GLIAC All-Academic selection twice. The two-time GLIAC women's soccer Offensive Player of the Year was also named the 2007 Daktronics Division II Player of the Year. She set GVSU single-season records for goals (36) and points (85) this season, while leading the Lakers to the NCAA Division II Final Four.

Hammer, a junior mathematics major, currently holds a 3.70 GPA at Grand Valley Statee. He is a four-time member of the Dean's List during his career as a Laker. Hammer earned NCAA Division II All-American honors at this season's Cross Country Championships by finishing in the top 30 with a time of 31:36.2. he finished fifth at the 2007 Great Lakes Regional meet, recording a time of 31:48.18.