Pitt State's Lee to Receive Award Friday in Atlanta

Complete NCAA Release

INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Pittsburg State University cross country/track & field star Venessa Lee will be honored Friday at the NCAA Honors and Delegates Celebration in Atlanta, Ga., as a 2010 recipient of the NCAA Top VIII Award. It was announced Dec. 17 that Lee would be recognized.

Lee becomes the third Pitt State student-athlete to receive the prestigious recognition, following in the footsteps of former Gorilla greats Christie Allen, cross country/track & field, 1993, and Brian Moorman, football/track & field, 2000.

Lee was the 2008-09 women's recipient of the Ken B. Jones Award. She also earned All-America honors in both indoor and outdoor track & field in 2009, placing third in the 800 meters at both championships. Lee graduated in May and maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.83 while double majoring in biology (pre-medicine) and Spanish.

The Today's Top VIII award recognizes current student-athletes who have completed their athletics eligibility for their success on the fields and courts, in the classroom and in the community.

Joining Lee as Top VIII honorees are:

• Amanda Blumenherst Duke, golf
• Courtney Kupets, Georgia, gymnastics
• Jeff Lerg, Michigan State, men's ice hockey
• Kent Raymond, Wheaton (Illinois), basketball
• Brittany Rogers, Alabama, softball
• Sarah Stevens, Arizona State, indoor and outdoor track
• Tim Tebow, Florida, football