Kansas Track's Rebeka Stowe Named Outstanding Woman Student in Athletics

April 3, 2012

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas track and field and cross country runner Rebeka Stowe has been named the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Woman Student in Athletics award, it was announced by the University of Kansas. Stowe will be recognized Tuesday evening at the annual Women’s Recognition Program, which honors outstanding women in the KU community.

Stowe, who hails from Olathe, Kan., is a four-year letterwinner for the Jayhawks in both cross country and track and field and has already left her mark as one of the top female distance runners in the program’s history. An All-American on the track and an All-Big 12 performer on the cross country trails, Stowe will graduate from KU in May with a long list of athletic accolades. She is a two-time All-Big 12 selection for the women’s cross country team and also has twice garnered All-Region honors. On the track, she is the school-record holder in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase, the same event in which she earned First Team All-American honors last June. As a sophomore, she also helped lead the women’s distance medley relay team to All-American distinction at the 2010 NCAA Championships.

Not only has Stowe excelled on the track, but she is just as driven and successful in the classroom. A health and physical education major, she has maintained a GPA of over 3.5 each semester of her KU career. Stowe has made the Academic All-Big 12 First Team five times and, following the 2010 cross country season, she was recognized as a U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic honoree. The Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) also added her to the Academic All-District team in the spring of 2011. Furthermore, she has been named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s and Athletics Director’s Honor Rolls every semester while at Kansas.

Despite her busy schedule of practice, meets and class, Stowe has found time to contribute to her community as well, participating in events such as Special Olympics, numerous food drives and organizing several events as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

Stowe was recognized earlier this winter by Kansas Athletics as the recipient of the annual Marlene Mawson Award, which is presented to a senior female athlete who has played an integral role on her respective team maintaining a stellar GPA throughout her time at KU. Mawson, who is known as the “Mother of Kansas Athletics,” will also be honored Tuesday evening as she will receive the Pioneer Woman award for her amazing contributions to women’s athletics at KU.

Stowe is one of 18 women who will be honored with one of the 14 Women’s Recognition Awards. Twenty outstanding female students in on-campus housing or sororities will also be honored. These awards were established to honor KU female students, staff, faculty and alumnae who have enriched and improved the campus and community through their service, teaching or involvement. The program is sponsored by the Emily Taylor Women’s Resource Center, the Commission on the Status of Women and the Office of Diversity and Equity.