Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 5:49 pm

FURSTENBERG

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin senior midfielder Jamie Furstenberg has been named as one of the six Ohio Valley Conference Scholar-Athletes for the 2008-09 season, the league announced last week. The award is the highest individual honor that can be earned by OVC student-athletes, and is given annually to three men and three women student-athletes of junior or senior status for their accomplishments in both the classroom and athletic arena, and because of their leadership qualities.
Furstenberg is the 11th UT Martin student-athlete to earn this award and first since Andrey Yesipov represented the tennis team on the prestigious list in 2007-08. Furstenberg is the first Skyhawk soccer player to ever earn the award.
Despite missing all but two games due to an injury in 2009, Furstenberg has left a huge mark on the UT Martin soccer program. A member of the 2008 OVC All-Tournament team, Furstenberg ranks in three all-time top-10 statistical categories in program history – matches started (58 of 59 career matches), goals (seven) and assists (five).
“Jamie is a dedicated individual – not only in athletics but also in academics,” UT Martin head coach Craig Roberts said. “She has a very strong foundation of commitment and dedication to striving to be the best at whatever she does. She works tremendously hard and this is a well-deserved award for her because of her commitment to time and education.
“She has embraced the philosophy that we implemented here since I started four years ago and she has a great understanding of the needs and requirements of each player to be successful.”
Obviously a tremendous asset to the Skyhawks on the pitch, the Traverse City, Mich., native has been even better in the classroom. Furstenberg has earned a spot on the OVC Commissioner’s Honor Roll all three seasons she has been eligible for the award, and also won an OVC Medal of Honor for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 academic school years for her 4.0 Grade Point Average. Last year, Furstenberg earned some national recognition for her academic achievements, as she was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas College All-American Scholar. A psychology major, Furstenberg currently sports a 3.97 overall GPA.
A member of the UT Martin Honor’s Program and the Dean’s List, Furstenberg is a member of the Gamma Beta Phi and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies, the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and President of the Psi Chi National Honor Society. She also has participated in numerous volunteer activities including Operation Christmas Child, Recycle Day and Touchdowns for Telethon.
“Jamie is the epitome of the term scholar-athlete,” said Danelle Fabianich, Assistant Athletics Director for Administration/Senior Women’s Administrator. “Not only did she perform at a very high level on the soccer field but she carries those same standards into the classroom. I have no doubt she will go on and accomplish great things in her chosen field.”
The six winners were selected from a group of 19 finalists by a vote of OVC Faculty Athletics Representatives. Honorees must have performed athletically with distinction, earned at least a 3.25 grade point average and conducted themselves in a manner which has brought credit to the student-athlete, his or her institution, intercollegiate athletics and the OVC. The award is based on academic and athletic criteria/accomplishments achieved during the 2008-09 school year.
The award was also given to Josh Cain (football, Jacksonville State University), Teresa Craig (volleyball, Tennessee Technological University), Jessica Goshert (soccer, Eastern Kentucky University), Derek Hardman (football, Eastern Kentucky University) and Leonardo Locatelli (tennis, Austin Peay State University).