Conference names cadet student-athlete of year Published June 28, 2007 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFPN) -- Air Force Academy senior Blair Leake was named the 2006-2007 Mountain West Conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year June 27. Established by the MWC Joint Council in 1999, the Student-Athlete of the Year award is the highest honor presented to a student-athlete by the league. The award is bestowed annually to one male and one female who best exemplify the term "student-athlete" by achieving excellence in academics, athletics and community involvement. Criterion for the Student-Athlete of the Year award requires that nominees demonstrate leadership, character and conduct on and off the playing field. In addition to superior athletic achievement, candidates must have a minimum 3.5 grade point average. The winners each receive a $2,500 postgraduate scholarship. Leake, an operations research major, excelled for the Falcons' swimming and diving team the past four years, including the last season as team captain. In addition to several individual top-10 finishes, she holds the school record in the 200-yard breaststroke. A two-time All-MWC performer (2006, 2007), she also earned Academic All-MWC honors and MWC Scholar-Athlete accolades four straight years. A native of Springfield, Mo., Leake graduated with a 3.88 grade point average at the Air Force Academy and was recently awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship as well the prestigious Draper Scholarship for graduate study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She was named to the Academy Dean's and Athletic list in each of her eight semesters and is the only cadet to be named a Dean's Ace (4.0 GPA) twice since the award originated in 2004. In addition to her academic and athletic commitments, Leake assumed roles of responsibility and leadership while at the academy, including a post as assistant director of academics for Cadet Squadron 16. She also was the driving force behind numerous community service projects. Leake joins a pair of Falcon men's swimmers as winners of the MWC Student-Athlete of the Year award. John Dayton earned the honor in 2003 and Matt Karmondy did so in 2006. Dayton and Karmondy were also NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship award winners as well. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) Click here to view the comments/letters page