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BAY CITY, Mich. -- The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) announced the recipients of the Winter 2008 GLIAC Commissioner's Awards. The awards, sponsored by Meijer, Incorporated, will be presented after the Fall, Winter, and Spring athletic seasons to six male and six female student-athletes that excel both in the classroom and on the fields of play.

The six female student-athletes to receive the Winter 2008 GLIAC Commissioner's Awards are: Erika Barczak of Wayne State University; Kirby Blackley of the University of Findlay; Rachel Folcik of Ferris State University; Ellie Miller of the University of Indianapolis; Catherine Rottier of Michigan Technological University; and Megan Starnes of Northwood University.

The six male student-athletes to receive the Winter 2008 GLIAC Commissioner's Awards are: Brett Bartlett of Ashland University; Tyler Evans of Findlay; Tyler Kazmierkoski of Northern Michigan University; Kevin Maloney of Michigan Tech; Paul Musille of Gannon University; and Phil Watkins of Grand Valley State University.

"These 12 student-athletes exemplify what collegiate athletics is all about," stated GLIAC Commissioner Tom Brown. "Our conference, along with Meijer Incorporated, 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 2008 Commissioner's Awards and for helping us acknowledge the exceptional accomplishments of this group."

The following are biographies of the Winter 2008 GLIAC Commissioner's Awards recipients:

Erika Barczak, a senior swimmer for the Warriors, is an art major who has maintained a 3.97 grade point average (4.0 scale). She earned two First Team All-America nods by placing fourth in one-meter diving (408.75) and sixth on the three-meter board (366.85). Barczak was named to the ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team in 2006-07. In 2008, she led the Warriors to a GLIAC championship and a top-ten national ranking.

A three-time member of the GLIAC All-Academic Team, Kirby Blackley is a business major who holds a 3.58 GPA (4.0 scale). The senior track star from Findlay was named an All-American in the long jump, 60 meter hurdles, and the 4x400 meter relay. The reigning women's Indoor Track and Field Great Lakes Regional Athlete of the Year holds the GLIAC meet record in the 55 meter hurdles (7.87) and currently owns at least a share of four indoor school records.

Rachel Folcik, a senior on the Bulldog women's basketball team is a business administration major who holds a 3.82 GPA (4.0 scale). She has been named to the GLIAC All-Academic Team three times as well as earning ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America First Team honors. Folcik was placed on the 2007-2008 WBCA and Daktronics All-Great Lakes Region First Team and was a two-time All-GLIAC First Team selection.

Ellie Miller, a senior swimmer at the University of Indianapolis is majoring in elementary education and holds a 3.93 GPA (4.0 scale). She was a 2007 ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America third-team member and has earned three GLIAC All-Academic Team selections. In the water, Miller earned All-American honors at the NCAA Division II Championships in the 400-yard freestyle relay and in the 500-yard, 1000-yard, and 1650-yard freestyle swims.

A mechanical engineering graduate student, Catherine Rottier, has maintained a 3.92 cumulative GPA (4.0 scale). A senior guard for the Huskies' women's basketball team, she was a three time member of the All-GLIAC Academic Team. The 2008 GLIAC Women's Basketball Championship most valuable player was also a first-team All-GLIAC selection as she shattered the single-season assist record at Michigan Tech by dishing out 189 assists this past season.

Megan Starnes, a junior forward on the Northwood women's basketball squad, is a marketing management major who has earned a 3.88 GPA (4.0 scale). The two-time GLIAC All-Academic team member was the first player in team history to earn All-GLIAC First Team honors and All-Defensive Team honors. She helped lead the Timberwolves to their first ever GLIAC North Division Championship and earn their first berth in the GLIAC Tournament.

A senior at Ashland, Brett Bartlett is an integrated mathematics education major carrying a 3.63 GPA (4.0 scale). A guard on the men's basketball team for the Eagles, he has been named to the GLIAC All-Academic Team two times and was a Second-Team All-District Four Academic All-America selection. Bartlett was a second-team All-GLIAC honoree in 2008 as he led the GLIAC in free throw percentage (.888) and was third in three-point field goals per game (2.78).

Tyler Evans, a junior business major, currently holds a 3.72 GPA (4.0 scale) at Findlay. He is a two-time member of the GLIAC All-Academic Team during his career as a guard on the Oiler men's basketball team. Evans made a team-high 60 three pointers while shooting 45.8 percent from behind the arc. He helped Findlay earn a spot in the 2008 GLIAC Men's Final Four championship game and a second seed in Great Lakes Regional tournament.

A starting guard on the Wildcat basketball team, Tyler Kazmierkoski is a social studies and secondary education major that has maintained a 3.85 GPA (4.0 scale) during his career. Kazmierkoski, who earned GLIAC All-Academic honors this past season, led Northern Michigan in three-pointers made with 69 and was second on the team with 47 free throws made. He was seventh in the GLIAC last season with a three-point field goals made average of 2.56 per game.

Kevin Maloney, a senior guard for the Huskies', holds a 3.62 GPA (4.0 scale) as a mechanical engineering major. He is a three-time member of the GLIAC All-Academic Team and the Paul Koski Award winner for having the highest grade point average on his squad. On the court, Maloney finished third on the team with 31 three-pointers made and hit four three-pointers in a game three times this past season.

A senior chemistry major, Paul Musille, is a consistent member of the Dean's List with a 3.75 GPA (4.0 scale) at Gannon. He is only the second Gannon male swimmer ever to qualify for the NCAA Division II Championships and the first to earn All-American honors since 1997. Musille broke school records this past season in the 200-yard freestyle (1:41.35) and in the 50-yard freestyle (20.88).

Phil Watkins, a junior at Grand Valley State who is majoring in biomedical science, carries a 3.72 GPA (4.0 scale). A five-time member of the Dean's List as a Laker, Watkins finished fourth in the 200-yard fly and seventh in the 100-yard butterfly at the 2008 GLIAC Championships, improving each of his finishes from 2007.