McGruder Earns Spot On Big 12 Good Works Team
Nebraska University track and field sophomore Leandra
McGruder has been named to the 2008 Big 12 Conference
Spring Sports Good Works Team.
A native of Jefferson City, McGruder was selected by the
University of Nebraska as its student-athlete who best
exemplifies community service, good academic standing and
participation in a Big 12 sponsored sport. McGruder joins Jenny
Green as the only Nebraska track and field athletes to be named
to the team after Green was honored on the 2007 spring team.
McGruder has been involved in the community by being a
member of SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee),
participating in the food backpack program and attending the
Big 12 Multicultural Leadership Conference.
McGruder has been named to the 2008 Big 12 Conference
Spring Sports Good Works Team.
A native of Jefferson City, McGruder was selected by the
University of Nebraska as its student-athlete who best
exemplifies community service, good academic standing and
participation in a Big 12 sponsored sport. McGruder joins Jenny
Green as the only Nebraska track and field athletes to be named
to the team after Green was honored on the 2007 spring team.
McGruder has been involved in the community by being a
member of SAAC (Student-Athlete Advisory Committee),
participating in the food backpack program and attending the
Big 12 Multicultural Leadership Conference.
After an outstanding freshman year where she was on of seven Husker freshmen to
qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, McGruder was honored as one of six team
captains for the 2008 season. She will look to make a return trip to the NCAA Outdoor
Championships as she has already regionally qualified in the triple jump with the 14th-best
jump in the Midwest Region at 41-8 (12.70).
McGruder has also excelled in the classroom as well as she has been named to the Big 12
Commissioner's Honor Roll during the spring and fall of 2007.
The Nebraska Athletic Department held its 18th annual Student-Athlete Recognition
Banquet on April 20 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Leandra was one of nearly 200
student-athletes who were honored as Medallion recipients for their academic
achievement during the last year.
The banquet is a result of the generous contribution made by Dick and Dale Herman, and
is sponsored by the University of Nebraska Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne shared brief remarks with the crowd, and those
in attendance also enjoyed an academic excellence video.
Leandra was also one of twenty-six Nebraska student-athletes recognized on Monday
morning, April 21, at the second annual HERO Leadership Recognition Breakfast.
The student-athletes were nominated by members of the Athletic/Academic Staff and
coaching staffs, and the student-athletes were recognized for demonstrating outstanding
leadership and citizenship.
The student-athletes honored have been the driving force in Nebraska student-athletes
impacting more than 100,000 people statewide in the past year through various forms of
outreach and service. Honorees have also been instrumental in encouraging and inspiring
teammates to further develop leadership qualities and volunteer on and off-campus.
Each of the 26 recipients was presented a plaque by Athletic Director Tom Osborne and
Associate Athletic Director for Life Skills Keith Zimmer.
Leandra was also selected to the Academic All-Big 12 Track and Field Team - First Team.
Athletes are nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services
and the media relations offices. To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or
higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60
percent of his/her team's scheduled contests.
Other activities she has been involved in are a member of Your Degree First of which she
is the 2008-2009 co-president, a program to educate and promote minority students to
help them attain their degree.
She is a co-captain of the Husker Women's track and field team. She was the only
sophomore Co-Captain among six captains this year.
Leandra is the daughter of Cosandra Watson, Jefferson City and the granddaughter of
John and Mary Lue Watson of Eolia.
qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships, McGruder was honored as one of six team
captains for the 2008 season. She will look to make a return trip to the NCAA Outdoor
Championships as she has already regionally qualified in the triple jump with the 14th-best
jump in the Midwest Region at 41-8 (12.70).
McGruder has also excelled in the classroom as well as she has been named to the Big 12
Commissioner's Honor Roll during the spring and fall of 2007.
The Nebraska Athletic Department held its 18th annual Student-Athlete Recognition
Banquet on April 20 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Leandra was one of nearly 200
student-athletes who were honored as Medallion recipients for their academic
achievement during the last year.
The banquet is a result of the generous contribution made by Dick and Dale Herman, and
is sponsored by the University of Nebraska Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne shared brief remarks with the crowd, and those
in attendance also enjoyed an academic excellence video.
Leandra was also one of twenty-six Nebraska student-athletes recognized on Monday
morning, April 21, at the second annual HERO Leadership Recognition Breakfast.
The student-athletes were nominated by members of the Athletic/Academic Staff and
coaching staffs, and the student-athletes were recognized for demonstrating outstanding
leadership and citizenship.
The student-athletes honored have been the driving force in Nebraska student-athletes
impacting more than 100,000 people statewide in the past year through various forms of
outreach and service. Honorees have also been instrumental in encouraging and inspiring
teammates to further develop leadership qualities and volunteer on and off-campus.
Each of the 26 recipients was presented a plaque by Athletic Director Tom Osborne and
Associate Athletic Director for Life Skills Keith Zimmer.
Leandra was also selected to the Academic All-Big 12 Track and Field Team - First Team.
Athletes are nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services
and the media relations offices. To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or
higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60
percent of his/her team's scheduled contests.
Other activities she has been involved in are a member of Your Degree First of which she
is the 2008-2009 co-president, a program to educate and promote minority students to
help them attain their degree.
She is a co-captain of the Husker Women's track and field team. She was the only
sophomore Co-Captain among six captains this year.
Leandra is the daughter of Cosandra Watson, Jefferson City and the granddaughter of
John and Mary Lue Watson of Eolia.