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University of Idaho student-athletes continue to raise the bar in the classroom. The Vandals posted the highest average GPA in school history for a regular spring semester.
Collectively, they posted a 3.49 GPA this spring, which was the 21st consecutive semester with a GPA over 3.0. U of I student-athletes come from near and far to compete at a high level while pursuing educational paths to rewarding careers.
Ella Haskins was one of 103 student-athletes to earn a 4.0 GPA, all while setting school records and holding down a job with the U of I Campus Events and Production team. As a senior-to-be on the women’s swim team, Haskins was a Western Athletic Conference Swimmer of the Week and the team’s MVP. She helped coach Mark Sowa’s swim and dive teams earn the Scholar All-America award from the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association.
Haskins’ father, Matthew, played basketball for the Vandals and was part of the team that made the Sweet 16 in 1984. Her mother Anne competed in track and field for the Vandals. But Ella didn’t feel any pressure to join the U of I family.
“I had offers from a lot of great schools, but as soon as I came and toured and met the coaches I just knew I wanted to be here,” said Haskins, who is from Seattle. “I wanted to be a little closer to home so my family could watch me compete. I decided to give Idaho a try and it’s become a second home.”
Haskins owns U of I’s fastest times ever in the 50 and 100-meter freestyle. She just missed qualifying for the NCAA Championships by .15 seconds, which gives her plenty of motivation heading into next season.
After earning her degree in criminology and sociology and gaining technical experience with the events and production team, Haskins plans to pursue a career in cybersecurity or criminal investigations.
Idaho Falls High School graduate Zachary Bright raced to second in the 800 meters at the Big Sky Conference Track and Field Championships last month. Along with his affinity for running, Bright’s passion for physics inspires his academic success.
“I have a love for physics and everything surrounding it, so I think teaching physics will be really cool,” Bright said. “And as a secondary teacher that will allow me to share my other passion – running – as a coach.”
Along with standouts from the Northwest, U of I athletics attracts talent from across the world. Saffron Dowse joined the women’s tennis team from Brighton, England, and captained the Vandals while excelling as a dual major in sociology and psychology. She also took on an in-depth research project that demonstrated the effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation in improving cognitive performance.
Dowse graduated in May and plans to pursue a career in clinical sports psychology after graduate school.
U of I athletes inspire our community, engage alumni and represent the Vandal Family in venues across the country. They also gain knowledge and skills that lead to fulfilling careers. We’re proud of the Vandals’ success in competition and in the classroom.
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