PORTLAND, Ore. – Thirteen total student-athletes from Western Oregon University have earned the prominent Faculty Athletic Representative Scholar-Athlete from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced by the league's communication office on Friday.
 
"We are so proud of each one of our eleven student-athletes who have distinguished themselves as GNAC Scholar-Athletes with their outstanding GPA's," WOU Executive Director of Athletics Barbara Dearing said. "They are an inspiration to us, and a positive reflection of their team and university. Through their hard work and dedication, they serve as role models and mentors to others. They understand the importance of classroom learning and performance, and earning their degrees. We congratulate them."  
 
Two of WOU's winners were among a group of two-time selections. Junior Jordan Mottershaw from women's basketball and sophomore Jessica De La Melena from women's soccer were repeat selections for the Wolves. They were among 107 females to be honored by the league.
 
Thirthy-six student-athletes, including Grace Knapp and Tyler Jones from track & field, had spotless 4.0 GPAs for the academic school year.
 
The award is presented annually to student-athletes at each of the GNAC's schools who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.85 or higher. All student-athletes listed on any roster in the conference, including redshirts and regardless of sport, are eligible for the award. A faculty athletic representative (FAR) is a member of the faculty at an NCAA member institution who has been designated to serve as a liaison between the institution's faculty and athletic department. The FAR serves as a representative of the institution in conference and NCAA affairs. Western Oregon is proud to have two FAR's – Dr. Dean Braa, professor of economics, and Kathy Farrell, professor of health & exercise science.
 
2015-16 GNAC FAR Scholar-Athlete Award Winners – Western Oregon University
Women
Launia Davis (Basketball, Visual Communication, Jr., 3.92, Meridian, Idaho)
* Jessica DeLaMelena (Soccer, Education/Math, So., 3.93, Vancouver, Wash.)
Natalie DeLonge (Basketball, Exercise Science, Fr., 3.93, Klamath Falls, Ore.)
Alecia Falck (Track & Field, Earl Childhood Education, So., 3.94, Eagle, Idaho)
Grace Knapp (Track & Field, Business, Fr., 4.00, Sandy, Ore.)
Natalie Legras (Track & Field, Business, Fr., 3.92, Scio, Ore.)
Sara Madden (Track & Field, Social Science, So., 3.88, Kent, Wash.)
* Jordan Mottershaw (Basketball, Communication, Jr., 3.93, San Marcos, Calif.)
Ali Nelke (Basketball, Business, Fr., 3.95, Albany, Ore.)
Dani Payne (Soccer, Psychology, Jr., 3.92, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)
Machaela Rapozo (Soccer, Business, Jr., 3.93, Lihue, Hawaii)
 
Men
Cadis Chase (Baseball, Interdisplinary Studies, Jr., 3.85, Manhattan, Mont.)
Tyler Jones (Track & Field, Math, Fr., 4.00, Bend, Ore.)

 *-Two-time selection
 **-Three-time selection
 ***-Four-time selection
Full list of conference FAR Scholar-Athletes for 2015-16 at www.gnacsports.com.