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Grace Devine
  • journalism
  • Class of 2017
  • Sussex, Wis.

Sussex's Devine Named WIAC Women's Swimming Scholar-Athlete of the Year

2017 Feb 20

Grace Devine, a native of Sussex, Wis., and member of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater swimming and diving program, has been selected the recipient of the 2017 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women's Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete Award. The award is sponsored by Badgerland Financial.

A senior and graduate of Sussex Hamilton High School, Devine maintains a 3.76 grade point average and is majoring in journalism with advertising emphasis, while minoring in marketing. She has been a member of a pair of UW-Whitewater teams that have received Scholar All-America honors from the College Swimming Coaches Association of America and is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Devine has been recognized on UW-Whitewater's Dean's List numerous semesters and received academic scholarships.

A team captain this year, she placed third in the 500-yard freestyle and helped the 800-yard freestyle relay team take second at the WIAC championship. Devine was also a member of the third-place 400-yard freestyle relay team. She was a member of the conference champion 800-yard freestyle relay squad in 2015. The school records in the 200-yard freestyle relay and 800-yard freestyle relay include her name.

She is a member of a nursing home visitation program and UW-Whitewater's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Devine has volunteered at a food pantry and worked at UW-Whitewater's Academic Support Center as a writing tutor and office assistant.

Also nominated for this year's scholar-athlete award were: UW-Eau Claire's Elissa Hermsen (Sr., Waunakee, Wis.); UW-La Crosse's Katelyn De Starkey (Sr., Green Bay, Wis./Pulaski); and UW-Oshkosh's Taylor Teske (Sr., Pewaukee, Wis./Hartland Arrowhead).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman who served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98. Prior to this appointment, she was Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WWIAC) from October 1984 - September 1996. Kruckman was the women's athletics director at UW-Eau Claire from 1974-84, and one of the original representatives to the WWIAC when it formed in 1971.



In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average. In addition, she must be in her last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

Badgerland Financial, headquartered in Prairie du Sac, Wis., is a customer-owned financial cooperative proud to finance the growth of agriculture and rural America. Badgerland Financial is one of the region's leading providers of credit, crop insurance, tax and accounting services to farmers, agribusinesses and rural residents. The company is committed to delivering on its vision to cultivate prosperity for agriculture and rural Wisconsin by serving member-owners through offices in 33 southern Wisconsin counties. To learn more, visit badgerlandfinancial.com.