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For graduating seniors Justine Schluntz and Craig Sheedy, their participation in the UA's national championship swimming and diving teams was a major factor in their excellence outside of the pool.

For graduating seniors Justine Schluntz and Craig Sheedy, their participation in The University of Arizona's national championship swimming and diving teams was a major factor in their excellence outside of the pool.

At the UA's Commencement ceremony on Saturday, Schluntz and Sheedy will be presented with prestigious student awards recognizing their academic performance and service to the community.

Schluntz is one of the recipients of the Robie Gold Medal Award, which is presented to one male student and one female student who show personal integrity, initiative, cooperativeness, enthusiasm, humility and well-rounded interests. Students also are recognized for their active participation in student affairs, service to the University and willingness to give more than required and show a love of God and country.

Sheedy will receive the Freeman Medal, awarded to one male student and one female student who show outstanding qualities of manhood or womanhood and moral force of character. Additional factors considered are: popularity, receipt of athletic awards, membership in organizations, service on committees and service as officers.

Both of the exceptional student-athletes believe that their athletic experience positively influenced their academic performance – especially as it relates to discipline, attention to detail and teamwork.

You have to be meticulous in your training and detail oriented – and I think that translates very well into academics," Sheedy said. "I think that is one of the reasons I love science so much, because it is so detail oriented."

A native of Albuquerque, N.M., Schuntz will graduate summa cum laude with honors from the College of Engineering with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.

In addition to her athletic efforts, she is involved in several campus and community service organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tucson, CATS community service and the Peer Athletic Leader program.

After being sidelined her first three semesters due to two shoulder surgeries, Schluntz participated in the next three NCAA Championships. In 2008, Schluntz swam the lead-off leg of the 800-meter freestyle relay. The relay's upset victory was part of Arizona's relay sweep that paved the way for the Wildcats' first ever NCAA team championship in swimming.

Schluntz calls the 2008 NCAA Championship victory one of her most memorable experiences at the UA – not only because of the win, but also due to the camaraderie among the players and coaches.

"It was a goal that we had been looking toward for an entire year," Schluntz said. "It was awesome to do it with our coaching staff, because Frank (Busch) is one of the best coaches in the country and it was his first title."

In 2009, Schluntz continued her athletic success by participating on two winning relays at the NCAA championships. The 200-meter freestyle relay and 400-meter medley relay both won in spectacular fashion, breaking school, NCAA and American records. In her three years as a collegiate swimmer, she has garnered nine All-American honors. 

Schluntz also credits campus activities centered around her Christian faith as being one of the important elements of her UA experience – specifically her involvement in Athletes in Action, a sports ministry on campus.   

"I have been a lot more involved in AIA this year and it's really exciting for me because feel like I can give back more to younger students."

Schluntz plans to continue her education at the UA by beginning graduate studies in mechanical engineering during the fall.

She has accepted a research assistantship with Jeff Jacobs to study experimental fluid dynamics. In addition, she looks forward to utilizing her final year of athletic eligibility by representing the Wildcats in the pool for one more year – which she said is "pretty unusual," being a graduate student with swimming eligibility.

A native of Tempe, Ariz. and a lifelong Arizona resident, Sheedy will receive bacholor's degrees from the College of Science and the College of Medicine. He is an honors graduate, double majoring in biochemistry and molecular biophysics and physiology with a minor in Spanish.

His gymnastics background served as the impetus for Sheedy to begin diving in his sophomore year of high school. As a relatively new diver, he participated in the UA club team during his first two years of college.

At the conclusion of his sophomore year, UA diving coach Michelle Mitchell informed Sheedy that he had improved enough to make the varsity team.

"Something that impacted by undergraduate experience the most was getting the opportunity to be on the team," Sheedy said. "It was a dream come true for me."

A year later, Sheedy was on the team that won the national championship.

"We were really excited, not just for ourselves but for our coaches – we know they deserved it and we really respect them and they are role models for all of us."

He served as a team co-captain, was a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and was involved in the Peer Athletic Leader and Step Up! leadership programs. He credits his experience on the diving team in helping him to become a better leader and "well rounded and more developed as a person."

Sheedy has been involved in scientific research for the biochemistry department for the past three years, His thesis research was performed in the laboratory of Megan McEvoy and involved studying a model copper/silver resistance system in the organism Escherichia coli, an important topic for study since the problem of copper and silver resistance is intimately linked to the broader subject of antibiotic resistance.

Progressively during his time at the UA, Sheedy added more and more to an impressive portfolio.

"First I was a student, then I added athletics, then research and after that the community service," Sheedy said. "I became more effective in my studying so I had more time to add other things."

Sheedy has been involved in a number of other campus and community activities. He is an elected officer in the UA Biochemistry Club, serves as a department ambassador promoting the biological sciences, is peer mentor for freshman students and a science tutor.

In addition, Sheedy is also very active in the community, having participated in service projects with the Boys & Girls Club and Grace Home. He also volunteers weekly at the Tucson Medical Center in the pediatrics unit and it has been such a most rewarding experience that it influenced his career plans.

The grandson of an orthopedic surgeon, Sheedy's interest from pharmacy to the medical field evolved during his time at the UA.

"Medicine has always been in the back of my mind. I started volunteering in pediatrics and I really enjoyed it, and that convinced me to apply to medical school," Sheedy said.

After graduation Sheedy will relocate to Nashville to pursue a doctorate in medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and will likely specialize in pediatrics.

"I am going to be real sad to be leaving the UA," Sheedy said. "It's been such a home to me. The hardest part about going is leaving those people behind."