April 23, 2008

Bay City, Mich. - The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference has announced that Phil Watkins has been named as a Winter 2008 GLIAC Commissioner's Award winner. The award honors six male and six female athletes in each season that excel both in the classroom and on the fields of play.

"These student-athletes exemplify what collegiate athletics are all about," stated GLIAC commissioner Tom Brown. "Our conference, along with Meijer Incorporated, feel that it is important to recognize these hard-working student-athletes for their outstanding performances in the classroom and on the field of play."

Watkins, a biomedical science major, carries a 3.72 grade-point average out of a 4.0 scale. A five-time member of the Dean's List as a Laker, Watkins finished fourth in the 200-yard fly and seventh in the 100-yard butterfly at the 2008 GLIAC Championships, improving each of his finishes from 2007.