U junior gymnast Theresa Kulikowski was named Verizon’s NCAA Division I Academic All-American Athlete of the Year, and graduated senior Shannon Bowles joined Kulikowski on the all-academic at-large first team.

The two starred for the U gymnastics team that placed fourth at Nationals in 2001 02. Kulio placed third in the all around and the balance beam and fifth on the uneven bars, while Bowles finished third on the floor, sixth in the all around and seventh on the balance beam at the NCAAs.

But their talents do not end there.

Kulio, who was the university’s first Academic Athlete of the Year in any school-sponsored sport, completed her exercise and sport science degree with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

However, the three-time NCAA champion still has another year of eligibility after missing much of the 2000 season with a knee injury.

Kulikowski will begin graduate classes during the fall, while still competing on the Red Rocks’ gymnastics squad.

Meanwhile, Bowles earned her degrees in psychology and exercise and sport science with a 3.81 GPA. Bowles, the 2002 North Central Gymnast of the Year, won the U’s Bud Jack Award for possessing the highest GPA of any graduating female athlete.