Aug. 24, 2000
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Three senior Purdue student-athletes have received Red Mackey Grants to study as either a graduate or undergraduate student for a fifth year.
The three recipients are Kristen Batzer of the women's swim team, Evan Hays of the men's tennis team and Carri Long of the women's track and field team. The Red Mackey Awards and Grants are given in memory of the late Guy "Red" Mackey, Purdue's athletic director from 1942 to 1971. A senior athlete is nominated from each team (two are nominated from football) by their teammates, and three winners are then chosen by a selection committee that includes members of the athletic department as well as alumni. Winners are selected based upon their ability to make the most of their academic and athletic talents, traits that Red Mackey exemplified.
Batzer, a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, won the Purdue Pride in Swimming Award in 2000. A team co-captain, Batzer swam personal bests all four years. She concluded her senior season with the team's third-fastest time in the 200 butterfly, fourth-fastest time in the 500 freestyle and the fifth-fastest time in the 1650 freestyle.
Hays was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. As a senior co-captain, he was named team most valuable player and received The Trujillo Award. In 1997, Hays and former Boilermaker Jennifer Embry claimed the ITA National Summer Championship mixed doubles title.
Long, a four-time All-American, claimed Big Ten championships in the indoor and outdoor high jump in 2000. She was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection and Big Ten Medal of Honor recipient. Long was named outstanding senior in consumer and family sciences education and was a member of Chi Alpha Sigma Indiana Iota Chapter and the National College Athlete Honor Society.
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