Utah State Recognizes 224 Student-Athletes at Annual Whitesides Luncheon

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State's athletics department recognized 224 student-athletes at the 30th annual Joe E. and Elma Whitesides Scholar-Athlete Luncheon on Tuesday. To be eligible for the honor, student-athletes must have a cumulative 3.2 grade point average or have posted a 3.2 GPA during the last two semesters.
 
The top honoree during the luncheon and earning the Joe E. Whitesides Award was track & field senior Reagan Hoopes, who will graduate in the spring with a combined GPA of 4.0 in computer science.

Utah State also handed out team honors and women's volleyball was named the top academic team with less than 20 members, while women's cross country was the top academic team with more than 20 members. Women's basketball was recognized as the most-improved academic team with less than 20 members, while women's track & field was the most-improved academic team with more than 20 members.

Men's track & field senior Zach Meyer and women's tennis senior Zeynep Naz Ozturk received the Wayne Estes Memorial Award, which is presented to a male and female graduating senior who excels in scholarship, citizenship and leadership. Katie Alexander and Madison Criddle were recognized as the Outstanding Mentor and Outstanding Tutor of the Year, respectively, while Tonya Sorenson received the Meet the Challenge Award.
 
The Whitesides honors were started in 1953 by former USU athlete, coach and athletics director Joe E. Whitesides.  



Press Release: 
Whitesides Scholar-Athlete 2023
Whitesides Scholar Athlete 2022
Whitesides Scholar Athlete 2021
Whitesides Scholar Athlete 2020
Whitesides Scholar Athlete 2019
Whitesides Scholar Athlete 2018