FERRIS' BECKY HOFFMAN REPEATS AS AN ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN

*2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Women's At-Large Team Release* PDF

For the second consecutive year, Ferris State University's Becky Hoffman (Gaines/Swartz Creek) of the nationally-ranked 2007-08 Bulldog women's golf team has been voted to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Women's College Division At-Large Second Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The announcement was made Thursday (June 12).

Hoffman, a senior, earned the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America distinction for the second consecutive time in her Ferris State career as she claimed second-team national laurels for the 2006-07 campaign. As a result of the 2006-07 recognition, the social work major became the first Bulldog women's golf team member to receive the prestigious national honor. This season, Hoffman advanced to the national ballot after garnering first-team status on the 2008 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV College Division Women's At-Large Team.

Becky Hoffman received ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades for the second straight time in her Ferris State career.

Hoffman was among 14 student-athletes to claim second-team accolades as 45 individuals combined to comprise the first, second, and third teams.

The 2007-08 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Women's Golf Athlete of the Year, Hoffman averaged a team-leading 77.81 strokes per round (2,490 total strokes) in 32 rounds for the 2007-08 season. Her stroke average this campaign represented the third-best all-time single-season performance in FSU women's golf annals.

A four-time (2004-08) All-GLIAC First-Team honoree, Hoffman racked up 10 top-20 place finishes this campaign with three being among the top five individuals. The three-time (2004-05, 2006-07, and 2007-08) National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) All-America Honorable Mention selection led or tied for top team lowest stroke total honors in six tournaments this season. The two-time (2006-07 and 2007-08) FSU Most Valuable Player Award recipient earned individual medalist honors at the 2008 GLIAC Championships (April 20-21) in Arlington, Ohio, as she carded a first-place tying 226 three-round stroke total in regulation and then won a first-hole playoff.

Hoffman concluded her four-year (2004-08) career at Ferris State ranking as the program's all-time leader with a 78.31 stroke average (9,240 total strokes) in 118 rounds. The three-time (2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07) NGCA Scholar-Athlete All-American accumulated 40 top-20 place finishes and produced 14 top-five place performances in her collegiate career. Hoffman was tabbed the 2004-05 GLIAC Women's Golf Freshman of the Year and owns the distinction of being only the second individual in Ferris State women's golf history to attain All-America honors at least three seasons.

In her four-year collegiate career, Hoffman helped lead the Bulldogs to four (2005-08) NCAA-II National Women's Golf Championship appearances. Ferris State placed fourth at the 2005 nationals, second place in 2006, third in 2007, and fourth in the 2008 tournament held from May 13-16 at the Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, Texas.

Chosen by the CoSIDA, the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Teams honors excellence in the classroom and competition. Nominated by members of CoSIDA, candidates for the Academic All-America team must be a starter or key reserve with legitimate athletic credentials and at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. The student-athlete must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at their respective institution and they must have completed one full academic year at their school. The at-large teams are comprised of student-athletes from those sports which don’t have an individual Academic All-America team. The 2007-08 ESPN The Magazine College Division Women's At-Large Academic All-American of the Year was Sue Ackerman, a lacrosse player at Salisbury (Md.) University.

Hoffman's selection represents the 29th time in the school's history which a Ferris State student-athlete has received ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America recognition. A three-time (2005-06, 2006-07, and 2007-08) GLIAC All-Academic Team member, Hoffman joins fellow FSU student-athletes Jake Visser and Erik Schumacher of the football team along with women's basketball Rachel Folcik to attain ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors for the 2008-09 season. Visser, Schumacher, and Folcik were all first-team selections.