University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Carmichael, Tankersley Named School's The American Scholar-Athletes
May 04, 2016 | General, Men's Cross Country, Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
Both honorees will receive their degrees at Saturday's commencement.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Carolina Carmichael and Stephen Tankersley, both members of the University of Memphis track and field program, were named the institution's American Athletic Conference Scholar-Athletes for the 2015-16 academic year, the league office announced Wednesday.
Carmichael and Tankersley both will participate in the University's 2016 spring commencement Saturday, May 7 at FedExForum.
A senior from Lake Forest, Ill., Carmichael holds the women's track and field school records in both the indoor and outdoor pole vault. Carmichael set the outdoor record of 14-9 (4.50m) when she won gold and placed first at the 2015 American Athletic Conference Championships in Storrs, Conn. Her indoor school record of 14-0.75 (4.29m) was set at the Jan. 30, 2016, Vanderbilt Invitational.
The three-time American Athletic Conference pole vault champion (one indoor, 2015; two outdoor, 2014, 2015) competed in the event at three NCAA Track and Field Championships. As a sophomore and junior, Carmichael placed 10th at the NCAA outdoor meet, and in March of 2016, she was 15th in her first NCAA indoor appearance.
For her career, she has 18 top-three outdoor pole vault performances, including 12 first-place finishes. In her indoor career, Carmichael has 15 top-three finishes and 10 titles.
This Saturday, Carmichael will receive her bachelor's degree in sport and leisure management at the University's spring commencement. A Tiger 3.0 Club member, she was a two-time American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team selection in 2014 and 2015.
At last week's University of Memphis Athletics Department/PAWScars ceremony, Carmichael was a double-winner, taking home the Best Individual Performance and Peers' Choice Student-Athlete of the Year honors. This summer, Carmichael is competing in the pole vault at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., July 1-10.
Tankersley, one of the program's distance performers, battled through injuries most of his career. The Boerne, Texas, native ran cross country all four seasons and recorded a personal-best 8k time of 25:07.20 at the 2013 American Athletic Conference Championships. His highest finish was an 11th-place performance at the 2014 Rhodes College Invitational. Tankersley was a member of three Tigers cross country squads that placed in the top-five at league championships meets from 2012-14, including a third-place finish at the inaugural American Championships in 2013.
The senior competed in both the indoor and outdoor campaigns in 2012-13 and 2013-14, but missed the entire 2014-15 season and 2015-16 indoor campaign as a result of injuries. He posted personal bests of 8:56.09 in the 3000 meters, 15:33.56 in the 5000 meters and 33:09.86 in the 10,000 meters. Tankersley's top outdoor performances were fifth in the 3000 meters at the 2014 Memphis Invitational, third in the 5000 meters at the 2013 Red Wolves Open and 11th in the 10,000 meters at the 2014 American Athletic Conference Championships.
A Dean's List student, Tankersley will receive his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at Saturday's graduation ceremonies. He was twice named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team in 2014 and 2015 and also earned a Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal in 2013.
At last week's University of Memphis Athletics Department/PAWScars ceremony, Tankersley was honored with the Citizenship Award. Tankersley's future plans are to pursue a master's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Memphis.
Faculty athletics representatives at each American Athletic Conference institution, in consultation with the director of athletics and appropriate athletics academic advisors, annually nominate one male and one female candidate for an Institutional Scholar-Athlete Scholarship. All nominees must have maintained both excellent academic credentials (minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00) and outstanding athletic performance; must have competed in an American Athletic Conference-sponsored sport; and must have attained a minimum of senior standing, as determined by the respective institution.
Carmichael and Tankersley both will participate in the University's 2016 spring commencement Saturday, May 7 at FedExForum.
A senior from Lake Forest, Ill., Carmichael holds the women's track and field school records in both the indoor and outdoor pole vault. Carmichael set the outdoor record of 14-9 (4.50m) when she won gold and placed first at the 2015 American Athletic Conference Championships in Storrs, Conn. Her indoor school record of 14-0.75 (4.29m) was set at the Jan. 30, 2016, Vanderbilt Invitational.
The three-time American Athletic Conference pole vault champion (one indoor, 2015; two outdoor, 2014, 2015) competed in the event at three NCAA Track and Field Championships. As a sophomore and junior, Carmichael placed 10th at the NCAA outdoor meet, and in March of 2016, she was 15th in her first NCAA indoor appearance.
For her career, she has 18 top-three outdoor pole vault performances, including 12 first-place finishes. In her indoor career, Carmichael has 15 top-three finishes and 10 titles.
This Saturday, Carmichael will receive her bachelor's degree in sport and leisure management at the University's spring commencement. A Tiger 3.0 Club member, she was a two-time American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team selection in 2014 and 2015.
At last week's University of Memphis Athletics Department/PAWScars ceremony, Carmichael was a double-winner, taking home the Best Individual Performance and Peers' Choice Student-Athlete of the Year honors. This summer, Carmichael is competing in the pole vault at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore., July 1-10.
Tankersley, one of the program's distance performers, battled through injuries most of his career. The Boerne, Texas, native ran cross country all four seasons and recorded a personal-best 8k time of 25:07.20 at the 2013 American Athletic Conference Championships. His highest finish was an 11th-place performance at the 2014 Rhodes College Invitational. Tankersley was a member of three Tigers cross country squads that placed in the top-five at league championships meets from 2012-14, including a third-place finish at the inaugural American Championships in 2013.
The senior competed in both the indoor and outdoor campaigns in 2012-13 and 2013-14, but missed the entire 2014-15 season and 2015-16 indoor campaign as a result of injuries. He posted personal bests of 8:56.09 in the 3000 meters, 15:33.56 in the 5000 meters and 33:09.86 in the 10,000 meters. Tankersley's top outdoor performances were fifth in the 3000 meters at the 2014 Memphis Invitational, third in the 5000 meters at the 2013 Red Wolves Open and 11th in the 10,000 meters at the 2014 American Athletic Conference Championships.
A Dean's List student, Tankersley will receive his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at Saturday's graduation ceremonies. He was twice named to the American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team in 2014 and 2015 and also earned a Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Medal in 2013.
At last week's University of Memphis Athletics Department/PAWScars ceremony, Tankersley was honored with the Citizenship Award. Tankersley's future plans are to pursue a master's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Memphis.
Faculty athletics representatives at each American Athletic Conference institution, in consultation with the director of athletics and appropriate athletics academic advisors, annually nominate one male and one female candidate for an Institutional Scholar-Athlete Scholarship. All nominees must have maintained both excellent academic credentials (minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00) and outstanding athletic performance; must have competed in an American Athletic Conference-sponsored sport; and must have attained a minimum of senior standing, as determined by the respective institution.
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
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