March 5, 2009
ATLANTA — The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association has selected Vanderbilt senior Christina Wirth as a 2009 WBCA Scholarship Award winner.
The awards are presented annually to two women’s basketball players who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the sport of women’s basketball and to academic excellence. Wingate’s Anna Atkinson was the other award recipient.
The scholarships enable deserving student-athletes to complete their undergraduate degrees or to begin work on advanced degrees. Each award is in the amount of $1,000.
“The WBCA is pleased to recognize those who excel both on and off the court and this year’s scholarship recipients have done just that,” WBCA CEO Beth Bass said. “Anna Atkinson and Christina Wirth have dedicated their time not only to basketball, but to academics and their exceptional efforts are worthy of being rewarded. You both have bright futures ahead of you.”
Wirth was recently named the Southeastern Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and is a finalist for the prestigious Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. Wirth was selected to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America third team last month. During the fall 2008 semester, Wirth posted a 4.0 grade point average while beginning work toward a graduate degree from Vanderbilt’s School of Nursing. A five-time honoree on Vanderbilt’s Dean List, Wirth has made the SEC Academic Honor Roll in every year of her career.
On the court, the 6-1 forward and two-year team captain was a unanimous All-SEC selection by league coaches. Wirth is currently Vanderbilt’s 13th all-time leading scorer and ranks third in school history with over 200 three-pointers made. Averaging more than 15 points per game this season, Wirth has led the Commodores to their 10th consecutive season with 20-or-more wins. Vanderbilt is the No. 2 seed in the 2009 SEC Tournament, which begins today in North Little Rock, Ark.
Outside of school and basketball, Wirth was named to the 2009 SEC Community Service Team. The Mesa, Ariz., native serves on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and is a part of the Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s leadership team.
Wirth and Atkinson will be formally presented with their awards during the WBCA Awards Luncheon presented by State Farm and Jostens on Tuesday, April 7, at Noon (CT) in the Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront Grand Ballroom. The awards luncheon is part of the 2009 WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women’s Final Four® in St. Louis, Mo.
About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women’s basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as a sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.
