Valparaiso, Loyola Basketball Players Named Scholar-Athletes of the Month for December
Jan. 9, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS -
Complete Release in PDF Format 
Valparaiso University sophomore Samuel Haanpää (men's basketball) and Loyola University Chicago sophomore Elyse VanBogaert (women's basketball) have been named the U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Month for December, League commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Wednesday (January 9).
Haanpää led the Crusaders to a 5-2 record in December, averaging a team-best 14.0 points per game on 59.6 percent shooting. He averaged better than three 3-pointers per game during the month, connecting on 51.1 percent of his attempts from behind the arc. Haanpää led the team in scoring three times, including a career-high 32 points against Chicago State on Dec. 15, when he hit a Valpo-record 10 3-pointers. He also earned League Player of the Week honors and was named the Mid-Majority Baller of the Week for his effort against Chicago State.
In the classroom, Haanpää maintains a 3.79 grade-point average as an international business major. He earned League Scholar-Athlete of the Week accolades on Dec. 18, and was named to the Mid-Continent Conference's All-Academic team as a freshman.
VanBogaert averaged 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.2 blocks, and 1.0 assists per game in the Ramblers' five games last month, while shooting 61 percent from the field. She was named to the All-Tournament team at the Florida Gulf Coast Holiday Classic, where she averaged 24.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. VanBogaert recorded her first double-double with 22 points and a career-best 12 boards in a victory over Texas-Pan American, and she poured in a career-high 26 points against Memphis on Dec. 20.
VanBogaert carries a 3.76 grade-point average, and has yet to declare a major.
The Horizon League instituted the U.S. Army Scholar-Athlete of the Week awards in 2006 as a way to supplement recognition of outstanding academic and athletic achievement by its student-athletes. That commitment continued with the addition of the U.S. Scholar-Athlete of the Month awards this fall. 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 and passed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours, and perform well during the month's competition. Winners are selected by a group of League faculty athletic representatives, from nominations provided by sports information directors.
OTHER MALE NOMINEES:
Tom Levin, Loyola (basketball, senior, 3.67, finance) contributed 2.0 points and 1.2 rebounds per game in five appearances in December. He closed out the month by posting 5.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game in his final pair of contests, including a five-point, three-board effort at UMKC. He also recorded five points, two boards, and a pair of blocks against Saint Mary's (Minn.).
OTHER FEMALE NOMINEES:
Agnieszka Kulaga, Valparaiso (basketball, junior, 3.75, international business) led Valpo to a 4-1 record in December, averaging 19.4 points per game, and shooting 51.6 percent from the floor. She had two career-high games of 26 points each against North Texas and Saint Xavier, and was named the League Player of the Week on Dec. 10 after also grabbing a career-best 10 rebounds against North Texas. She currently leads the Crusaders in scoring on the season with 14.8 points per game.
Previous U.S. Army Scholar-Athletes of the Month:
August/September: Mark Sommerfeld, Detroit (GOLF); Betty Slinger, Green Bay (VOLLEYBALL)
October: Robby Leibold, Milwaukee (SWIMMING); Tara Geegan, Wright State (VOLLEYBALL)
November: Mike Schactner, Green Bay (BASKETBALL); Tara Geegan, Wright State (VOLLEYBALL)
