CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Per release from the league office, Sara-Michael Jann and Jacob Jensen of the Gardner-Webb swimming team have been named as recipients of the Big South Conference George A. Christenberry Award for the 2025-26 academic year

This academic year, a league-record 14 student-athletes have been awarded for academic excellence. The George A. Christenberry Award is given to a graduating male and female student-athlete who attain the highest GPA during their undergraduate collegiate careers. It is the 14th consecutive year at least SIX student-athletes have been honored, and the total surpasses the record number of 12 recipients achieved in 2019-20 and 2024-25

Big South member institutions nominate one male and one female student-athlete for the annual Christenberry Award, or multiple student-athletes that tie for the highest GPA on their respective campus. The honor is named for George A. Christenberry, the former President of Augusta College (now Augusta University) and one of the founders of the Big South Conference.  A member of the Big South Hall of Fame, Christenberry served as the league's first President from 1983-86

Representing Gardner-Webb, Sara-Michael Jann had a memorable senior day meet for GWU this past season to cap off her career, placing third in the women's 400-yard IM against Davidson, posting a time of 4:38.31 in her final meet at Bost Pool. Jann was also fourth in the women's 100-yard freestyle against UNC Wilmington in the fall, finishing in 54.40 seconds. Jann's accomplishments also extend back to her debut season for GWU, where she finished with ten top-10 finishes and three event championships as a freshman. Her achievements in the pool for GWU went along with a perfect 4.0 GPA. Jann earned ASUN All-Academic Team honors following her final season, highlighting a remarkable career both in the pool and out

Also representing Gardner-Webb, Jensen set a personal best in the men's 100 yard free at the 2026 ASUN Championships, recording a time of 44.78 seconds, a meet where he posted fourth place runs as part of the 200 yard and 400 yard relay teams. Jensen also won the men's 50-yard freestyle against Davidson in January with a time of 20.72 seconds. He was named both ASUN All-Academic and College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District after the season, highlighting both academic and athletic achievement to cap off his Gardner-Webb career