Outstanding CLU students to be honored

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – April 25, 2008) California Lutheran University will recognize the hard work and achievement of many of its students during Honors Day Convocation at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 16, in Samuelson Chapel.

Alumna Brandie Murrish, head women’s basketball coach at Sierra College in Rocklin, will deliver the keynote address and receive the 2008 Outstanding Alumna Award.

Under Murrish’s guidance during her first year as head coach, the Sierra College Women’s Basketball team finished second in the California Community College State Tournament with an overall record of 32-5. As a result, her peers voted her 2006-2007 Coach of the Year.

Prior to coaching at Sierra College, Murrish guided Bishop Alemany High School to the CIF Division Finals and was awarded the 2005-2006 CIF Southern Section Coach of the Year. A former assistant coach at her alma mater, Murrish led the CLU Regals to a SCIAC championship and a second round finish in the NCAA Championship. As a student-athlete, she earned the title of Butte County Sophomore Athlete of the Year before coming to CLU where she earned First Team All-Conference honors on the court.

Along with a bachelor’s degree sports medicine from CLU, the Chico resident has earned two master’s degrees, one in education and instructional technology from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz., and one in kinesiology from California State University, Northridge.

Scholastic Honor Society inductees, Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Scholar Athletes, the Mark Van Doren Poetry Award recipient and the Dean’s Award recipients will be honored during the ceremony. In addition, newly endowed scholarship donors will be recognized.

The ceremony is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact the Media Relations Office at (805) 493-3151.