EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Evansville graduate student Melanie Helder (Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville) has been named to the Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Scholar-Athlete Team for her work both in the classroom and on the cross country course.

Helder, who is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at UE, garnered MVC Scholar-Athlete Team honors after placing 13th overall at the MVC Championships in Terre Haute last Friday.  Scholar-Athlete honors in cross country require student-athletes to meet performance standards, as they must finish in the first 20 runners at the conference championships, and hold at least a cumulative 3.5 GPA and be in sophomore standings academically.  Helder earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors at Michigan State last year after graduating from MSU with a 3.98 GPA.

Helder and the Purple Aces will now turn their attention to the indoor track season, with competitions beginning early next month.