On Monday, May 3, The University of Arizona Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (I.C.A.) held the 39th annual Commitment to an Athlete's Total Success (C.A.T.S.) Senior Awards Dinner. The C.A.T.S. Banquet is organized and presented by the Student-athlete Advisory Board (S.A.A.B.). S.A.A.B. is comprised of student-athlete representatives from all 19 intercollegiate sports' teams who serve as a direct voice for all student-athletes to the administration, giving input on how to improve the UA Athletics program and discussing current issues. This year S.A.A.B. President Jeff McLarty (CC / Track & Field) and S.A.A.B. member Megan Canaday (Soccer) served as emcees.

This was an emotional evening during which I.C.A. and S.A.A.B. was pleased to honor and recognize each of this year's outstanding 48 senior student-athletes. Now concluding their collegiate eligibility, each of these seniors has been an important part of the terrific success of Arizona Athletics over the past few years. Along with administrators and coaches from each sport, many current University of Arizona student-athletes attended the C.A.T.S. Banquet to celebrate the accomplishments of their senior teammates and peers.

The Ruby and Sapphire Awards, the highest honor bestowed upon current student-athletes and given by I.C.A. each year to the top female and male student-atheltes, were presented, respectively, to Amy Skieresz (CC/Track & Field) and an unusually shy Abdi Abdirahman (CC/Track & Field).

This year's Silver Anniversary Award was presented to Mr. Clarke Russell Duncan.

The highlight of the evening was the senior responses. This is a time during which 4 seniors, Jason Stewart (Basketball), Monique Allegre (Tennis), Ryan Springston (Football), and Michelle Churnock (Softball) shared their experiences and thoughts about what it has meant to them to have been a part of Arizona Athletics. As is normally the case, the senior responses were honest, insightful, and earnest.

Tickets to the 1999 C.A.T.S. Banquet were $30. For more information about next year's C.A.T.S. Banquet, tentatively scheduled for May of 2000, please call the Public Relations and Special Events Office at ext. 3.