Student-Athlete for the Month of March
BEREA, OHIO -- Baldwin-Wallace College junior cross country and track and field student-athlete Jessica Campagna (Wadsworth High School) has been selected as the STARR Student-Athlete for the Month of March, 2004.
The STARR of the Month program stands for Student-athletes Taking Active Responsible Roles. The program was developed in conjunction with two NCAA-related programs: CHAMPS/Life Skills and the STARR pilot of which B-W is one of eight D-III grant recipients. The October STARR Student-Athlete of the Month was football offensive center Tom Kovacevich (Strongsville), the November STARR Student-Athlete of the Month was women's soccer player Kellie Corbett (Silver Lake/ Cuyahoga Falls), the December STARR Student-Athlete of the Month was women's cross country runner Jamie Luketic (Rootstown), the January STARR Student-Athlete of the Month was women's swimming and diving standout Kristen Showalter (Bowling Green) and the February STARR Student-Athlete of the Month was senior football/ basketball player Will Pearson (Dallas, Texas/ John Foster Dulles High School).
The STARR of the Month Program recognizes student-athletes who are showing a great balance between athletic, academic, personal, service, leadership and other involvement. We, in CHAMPS/Life Skills, strive to focus on positive role-modeling among our student-athletes. Recipients must carry a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA, be in at least their second year of competition at B-W and make positive contributions to the Campus and surrounding communities. We know our student-athletes excel in many areas and it is time to show the Campus and surrounding community how proud we are.
Campagna is a psychology major major who carries a 3.178 grade point average in the classroom and hopes to attend graduate school. She is both a Dean's List and Laurels Honor Society member, participated in the Emerging Leaders Retreat as a freshman and in the Distinguished Leaders Conference this year.
Athletically, Campagna competes in both cross country and track and is a letter winner in each sport. In cross country, Campagna has competed for three seasons. This fall, she had a season's best time of 22:46 in the 5K race at Bowling Green State University and was timed in 27:45 and placed 83rd in the 6K at the 2003 OAC Championship Meet. In track, Campagna is competing in her third season of indoor and outdoor track as a middle distance and disatnce runner. She recorded indoor career bests of 3:23.10 in the 1000 meter run and 5:31.59 in the 1500 meter run as a freshman in 2002. She had career bests in the 3000 meter run of 12:16.94 and 21:04.09 in the 5000 meter run this winter. Outdoors, Campagna set career-bests of 5:39.44 in the 1500 meter run and 12:47.41 in the 3000 meter steeplechase last spring.
"Jessica is an outstanding young woman who balances her academics and athletics very well," said veteran Yellow Jacket cross country and track coach Dr. Bill Taraschke. "She is also a very involved person on campus and in her sorority. Jessica is well-rounded to say the least."
On campus, Campagna is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, is the Social Chair for the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority, a member of the Psychology Club, Intravarsity Christian Fellowship, is a facilitator for the "Is it OK?" Program and serves as a facilitiator for the Greek New Member Retreat. Campagna has also participated in the Race for the Cure, volunteered at the Big Creek Elementary School and is a member of the Barbara Byrd Bennett Scholar Program (MLK Mentoring). This fall, she coordinated the OAC's Operation Goodsport for Baldwin-Wallace, promoting sportsmanship at local schools. Campagna is also a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's Executive Board. She also has worked for Autism Services for Kids and attended the 707 Ministries Conference.
Campagna is the daughter of Ron and Judy Campagna of Wadsworth
FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact Baldwin-Wallace College Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at (440) 826-2327, by FAX at (440) 826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu.
275 Eastland Rd.