Varsity Athletics

STARR Student-Athletes for the Month of April

BEREA, OHIO -- Baldwin Wallace University junior softball student-athlete Julie Durkot (Parma, Ohio/ Seven Hills Normandy) and senior track and field thrower and student-athlete Jon Shoffstall (Lakeview, Ohio and Indian Lake) have been selected as the co-STARR Student-Athletes for the Month of April, 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 BW 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), the February STARR Student-Athlete of the Month was senior football/ basketball player Will Pearson (Dallas, Texas/ John Foster Dulles) and the March STARR Student-Athlete of the Month was junior cross country and track and field runner Jessica Campagna (Wadsworth).

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 BW 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.

Durkot is an education major major who carries a 3.48 grade point average in the classroom and hopes to teach high school math. Durkot is on the Dean's List. She is a member of Chi Alpha Sigma (College Athlete Honor Society), Pi Delta Kappa (Education Honor Society), Kappa Mu Epsilon (Mathmematics Honor Society) and Laurels Honor Society,

Durkot's on-campus activities include president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and a member of Teaching Together and Circle K. She served as both as a College 101 Course Assistant and as an Orientation Leader and participated in the Distinguished Leaders Conference. Durkot has also participated in the Swim for Diabetes and the Juvenile Walk for Diabetes.

Athletically, Durkot competes of the softball team and is playing her third season this spring. She saw all of her action on the junior varsity squad as a freshman and sophomore and is playing a backup role on the varsity this spring.

Shoffstall is a health and physical education major who carries 3.81 grade point average and hopes to teach and coach football and track. He is currently competing in his second season of track this spring and played one season of football but did not letter. Shoffstall transferred to BW from NCAA Division II Hillsdale (Mich.) College in the Fall of 2003.

On campus, Shoffstall is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, PEM (Physical Education Majors Club) and is on the PEM Dance Pedagogy Team.

In track, Shoffstall competes in the shot put and 45-pound weight throw indoors and in the shot put, discus, javelin and hammer outdoors. He has earned two varsity letters. In 2003, Shoffstall earned Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference honors in track. This winter, he earned All-OAC honors in indoor track in the shot put and weight throw.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact Baldwin Wallace University 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 or STARR Program coordinator Michelle Nicopolis-Gallagher by telephone at (440) 826-2357 or by e-mail at mnicopol@bw.edu.