Loyola's Hernandez, Valpo's Litka Honored as U.S. Army Scholar-Athletes of the Week

Feb. 6, 2009

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INDIANAPOLIS -- Loyola University Chicago thrower Erik Hernandez and Valparaiso University basketball player Aimee Litka have been named U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week for the week ending Feb. 1, League commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Friday (Feb. 6).

Hernandez (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago Community), a senior, placed first in both the shot put (15.66m, 51-04.50) and weight throw (17.06m, 55-11.75) at the Tadd Metzger Invitational hosted by Carthage College last Saturday. His mark in the weight throw broke his own school record of 16.26m (53-04.25) set in 2007. For his efforts, Hernandez was selected the Horizon League's Men's Field Athlete of the Week earlier this week.

In the classroom, Hernandez carries a 3.79 grade-point average as a biology major at Loyola, where he is a member of the school's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He has been named to the Horizon League Track and Field All-Academic Team and the Academic Honor Roll during his career.

Litka (South Bend, Ind./St. Joseph's), a senior, scored 26 points in Valpo's 83-65 victory at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Jan. 29. She made 6-of-9 three-point attempts and also posted five rebounds, five steals and three assists against the Panthers. Two days later, Litka had eight points against the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. She currently ranks 20th in Valpo history with 836 career points.

Litka is pursuing a master's degree in sports administration and owns a 3.9 grade-point average in graduate school at Valparaiso. She has been named to the Horizon League's Academic Honor Roll three times in her career and is a member of Phi Epsilon Kappa, the physical education honors fraternity.

The Horizon League instituted the U.S. Army Scholar-Athlete of the Week awards as a way to recognize outstanding academic and athletic achievement by its student-athletes. To be eligible for the honor, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 or better (on a 4.00 scale), have completed at least one year at the member institution, passed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours and perform well during the week's competition. Winners are selected by a group of League faculty athletic representatives, from nominations provided by sports information directors.

OTHER MEN'S NOMINEES:
Robo Kreps, UIC (basketball, sophomore, 3.25, exercise and fitness)
Ryan Tillema, Green Bay (basketball, senior, 3.40, business administration)
Kyle Verage, Valparaiso (swimming, senior, 3.56, classics)
Rob West, Cleveland State (tennis, junior, 3.73, psychology)

OTHER WOMEN'S NOMINEES:
Olivia Arnold, Youngstown State (swimming, senior, 3.56, political science)
Brittany Boeke, Loyola (basketball, sophomore, 3.80, business)
Celeste Hoewisch, Green Bay (basketball, sophomore, 3.34, human biology)
Jessica Roque, Cleveland State (basketball, junior, 3.43, health sciences)