Grad honored for success in gym, classroom

Award-winner Emily Lawrence graduated with a 4.0 GPA. Photo: Steve Woltmann

Women’s gymnast Emily Lawrence, a recent UIC grad, was honored for her academic and athletic achievements.

Lawrence was named to the Capital One Academic All-District At-Large Team by College Sports Information Directors Association officials Friday.

Lawrence graduated this month with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, completing her academic work with a flawless 4.0 cumulative GPA.

Lawrence was a four-year letterwinner for the Flames, competing in a combined 23 meets the past two seasons.

The West Bend, Wis., native was a floor and beam specialist during her senior season, capturing the team’s best individual score in those events seven times.

Lawrence was named UIC’s Female Student-Athlete of the Year for the third consecutive year April 30 at the annual “Night of Champions” ceremony.

Last summer, Lawrence studied abroad in Cape Town, Africa. She and eight other student-athletes from across the country were stationed in the small village of Egoli, Africa, from June through July.

In Africa, she observed the maternity ward, trauma patients and outpatients in six hospitals and clinics. Her program of focus during her career as a student at UIC was occupational therapy.

In the gym, Lawrence helped the Flames capture the 2013 Midwest Independent Conference (MIC), along with an at-large berth into the NCAA Regionals in 2012.