OSU Names Male and Female Student-Athletes of the Year

Nestor Gonzales
Communication Services
Oklahoma State University
(405) 744-6260
04/21/05

Valentina Medina

Joey Graham and Valentina Medina were named the 2004-2005 OSU Student-Athletes of the year at the annual Academic Awards Banquet. The two awards were the final ones to be announced at the banquet held on April 11^th this year.

Student-athletes who earn the award must demonstrate significant success both on the field of competition and in the classroom, and this year’s recipients were no exception. 

A native of San Cristobol, Venezuela, Valentina Medina runs track and field as well as cross-country for OSU and has excelled since she arrived on campus in 2001.  In her first year, she was named all Big XII.  In 2002, she finished 3^rd in the mile competition at the Big XII Indoor Track Championships. In the same year, she was also an NCAA qualifier for the mile. 

While Valentina sat out 2003 with an injury, 2004 proved to be a banner year for her.  She was the 2004 Big XII Outdoor Champion in the 1,500 meter race; earned a 2^nd place finish in the NCAA Midwest Regional; and earned four top-7 finishes, including a 1^st place at the Tyson Invitational mile and 3^rd place at the Texas Relays 1,500.   

In the classroom, Valentina has performed at an equal caliber.  She is a 9-time Academic Big XII honor roll (3.00 GPA or greater); 7-time Dean’s honor roll in the Spears College of Business Administration; 4-time OSU President’s Honor Roll (4.00 semester), and last year she was named Top 10 OSU College of Business Students.  She has since graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Accounting and is working on an M.S. in Accounting currently.   

Having earned his first bachelor’s degree in Aviation Sciences in July of 2004 and earning his professional pilot’s license, Joey Graham has been the model of academic and athletic excellence.   

In 2003-2004, Joey earned All Big XII – 3^rd Team by the Coaches Poll and All Bix XII – Honorable Mention from the AP Poll.  But 2004-2005 proved to be Joey’s breakout year: statistically, he led his teammates in 3-pt fieldgoal % (.460), free throw % (.889), rebounds (196), and was 2^nd in scoring (17.5 ppg average).   

Besides these glittering stats, Joey was named to the 2004-2005 Pre-season All Big XII team; was a Big XII player of the year candidate; pre-season John R.Wooden award candidate; and national All-American candidate.  Joey earned a place on the All Big XII 1^st team, and was Sports Illustrated 2^nd Team All-American Candidate. 

 For information about this page, send e-mail to Nestor Gonzales.