FSU's Greg Burns Receives GLIAC Award

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Big Rapids, Mich. - Ferris State University senior pole vaulter Greg Burns has been tabbed as one of 12 winter season recipients of the prestigious Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Commissioner's Award sponsored by Meijer, Inc.

The announcement of this winter's six male and six female honorees was made today (April 16) by the league office.

The GLIAC Commissioner's Awards are presented following the conclusion of the fall, winter and spring seasons to six deserving female and male winners each based on those who excel both in the classroom and on the field of play.

In addition to Burns, this winter's male recipients include: Scott Perkins of Lake Superior State, Mike Hojnacki of Michigan Tech, Jared Fischer of Northwood, Steve Genther of Saginaw Valley State and Cauli Bedran of Wayne State. The six female student-athletes include: Stephanie Tinney of Ashland, Brooke Knight of Hillsdale, Sarah Stream and Katie Wysocky of Michigan Tech, Jodi Ostergren of Northwood, and Ashley St. Andrew of Wayne State.

"These 12 student-athletes that represent, their institutions, the GLIAC, and their respective communities truly embody the term student-athlete," stated GLIAC Comissioner Dell Robinson. "Their pursuit of excellence on and off field serves as a monumental testament of the talented young leaders we have in this conference.  I will look to them to be the leaders of the future.

"The GLIAC greatly appreciates the support of Meijer for their sponsorship of the 2009-10 Commissioner's Award," he added. "The award, and the continued support by Meijer, are evidence of our pursuit of academic excellence."

Burns was one of three men's indoor track and field student-athletes to receive the award this winter.  He's also the ninth Ferris State student-athlete to receive the honor in the three-year history of the award and the first from the FSU men's track and field/cross country program.

Burns claimed All-America accolades at the 2010 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships by matching a personal career-best effort and finishing sixth overall with a performance of 16-3.25 in the event.  He became only the third FSU men's track and field athlete since 1993 to claim either indoor or outdoor All-America accolades by being named to the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II All-America squad. 

A two-year letterwinner, Burns made his first appearance this season in the NCAA D-II Championships after winning the pole vault and picking up All-GLIAC laurels at the GLIAC Indoor Championships with a school-record showing (16-3.25). 

Burns placed among the top 10 finishers in the pole vault in all nine of his indoor meets this year and came away with four individual titles and two runner-up finishes. Previously, Burns claimed Ferris State's 2008-09 team “MVP” Award for the field events.

Currently, Burns is midst his outdoor season for the Bulldogs and won the Bulldog Invitational with a vault of 15-7 last Saturday (April 10) at FSU's Top Taggart Field.  The Bulldogs will compete in the Northwood Invitational this Saturday (April 17) in Midland, Mich.