SPOKANE, Wash. - Northwest Nazarene All-American Ashley Puga has been named the 2008-09 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year, announced this afternoon by the conference office in Spokane.

Puga (Sr., Meridian, ID – Nampa Christian) is a nine-time NCAA Division II All-American and a two-time national champion and is the most decorated track and field athlete in Northwest Nazarene history.

She won NCAA Indoor and Outdoor national titles in the 800 meters this past season, setting a GNAC outdoor record with a season best time of 2:05.23. That time is the sixth fastest in NCAA Division II history.

Puga, who placed eighth in the 1500 meters in addition to winning the 800 at the outdoor national meet, was also selected the GNAC and the USTFCCCA Outdoor National Track Athlete of the Year. She set school records this spring in the 400, 800 and 1500 and now holds nine individual or relay NNU track records.

In indoor track and field, she won conference titles in the 800 and mile and led her team to a win in the 4x400 relay in earning GNAC Outstanding Performer honors at the conference meet. In cross country, she placed sixth in the conference meet and 16th in the NCAA West Region meet.

In the classroom, she posted a 3.95 grade point average graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance. A member of the Dean’s List for all eight semesters of her collegiate career, she was a three-time GNAC Cross Country and Track & Field all-academic selection. She was also a three-time selection to the USTFCCCA All-Academic team.

Today's announcement marks the second-straight year an NNU student-athlete has captured the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year award. Amanda Peters (W. Soccer-Track & Field) was the 2007-08 recipient.