Kilmartin tabbed 2008 ESPN the Magazine Men's Track and Field Academic All-American of the Year
Texas senior Donovan Kilmartin has been named the 2008 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American of the Year in men's Track and Field, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) have announced. Kilmartin was selected from over 300 nominations nationwide. Along with that honor, he was named an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American for the third time in his career (2006, '07 and '08). "That is an unbelievable honor," said Kilmartin, when told he would receive the award. "I've paid attention to the guys on these teams during my career and they are outstanding scholars and athletes. To be chosen as the All-American of the Year out of that group is really special. I'm shocked. "To me, this is what college is all about. We all come in as athletes trying to make it to the pros, but academics are what carry you through your future careers and life. It was a top priority for me and I'm honored to have been selected for this award." A graduate student pursuing a master's degree in petroleum engineering, Kilmartin earned his undergraduate degree in petroleum engineering from Texas in August 2007 with a 3.55 GPA. He is a four-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 team and also was presented with the Texas Exes Leadership Award at the 2007 Men's Athletics Academic Awards Banquet. That award is given to a UT men's athlete who embodies the attributes that are valued in alumni leadership. Kilmartin, an Eagle, Idaho native, is a three-time NCAA Champion in the heptathlon (indoors), the only male in NCAA history to win the event three times. He set a then-NCAA record in the heptathlon with a score of 6,136 points as a freshman. Kilmartin also is a five-time Big 12 Champion. He won the 2008 Big 12 decathlon title with 7,675 points, a score that ranked eighth nationally entering the NCAA Championships. The Academic All-America program annually honors over 1,600 student-athletes who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada. Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports. To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.
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