Sara-Michael Jann and Jacob Jensen from Gardner-Webb's swimming team have been awarded the Big South Conference's prestigious George A. Christenberry Award for academic excellence during the 2025-26 academic year. This year marks a record-breaking 14 student-athletes recognized for maintaining the highest GPA during their collegiate careers, solidifying the award's growing prestige. Named after the former Big South president, the award honors outstanding academic achievements by male and female student-athletes. Jann and Jensen excelled not only in academics, both holding GPAs of 4.0, but also in their athletic performances throughout their senior years.

By the Numbers
  • 14 student-athletes awarded for academic excellence in 2025-26, a league record.
  • 4.0 GPAs for both Jann and Jensen, highlighting academic achievement.
State of Play
  • Jann recorded a time of 4:38.31 in her final meet, placing third in the women's 400-yard IM.
  • Jensen achieved a personal best of 44.78 seconds in the men's 100-yard freestyle at the ASUN Championships.
What's Next

Both Jann and Jensen will graduate and potentially pursue opportunities in their respective fields, leveraging their academic accomplishments and athletic experiences. Their recognition sets a positive precedent for future student-athletes at Gardner-Webb and within the Big South Conference.

Bottom Line

The achievements of Jann and Jensen underscore the importance of balancing academics and athletics, serving as an inspiration for future student-athletes. Their recognition at this level highlights the value of hard work and dedication in both classrooms and competitive environments.