ST. LOUIS, MO.  -- Drake junior Ari Curtis (Fort Collins, Colo.)  was selected the Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week.

A member of the Drake women's track and field team, Curtis, established a Bulldog school record in the 400-meter hurdles at the Tom Botts Invitational in Columbia, Mo., last Saturday (April 3).

Competing in the event for the first time, Curtis, who has a 3.87 cumulative grade-point average in magazine journalism, posted a winning time of 1:00.00, surpassing the previous Drake mark of 1:00.59 by Julie Head in 2000.

She also ran the second leg on Drake's 4x100 relay which finished third (:48.48) and the first leg on the Bulldogs' 4x400 relay which placed fourth (3:53.14).

Now in its 11th year of existence, The Valley's Scholar-Athlete program is sponsored by Prairie Farms, Roberts and Hiland Dairies.  On a weekly basis, the conference honors its student-athletes for their athletic performance for a one-week period and academic success in the classroom.

“Prairie Farms' continued involvement in this program provides a visible platform by which to recognize our top student-athletes,” said Commissioner Elgin, who is in his 22nd year with The Valley.  “Our student-athletes are the league's best representatives, and we're happy to honor Ari (Curtis) for her athletic and academic achievements.”