ORONO – University of Maine student-athlete Kate Abbott of Readfield was among 21 America East individual sport scholar-athlete award winners, announced today by Chris Monasch, Commissinoer of the America East Conference. Abbott earned the women’s swimming and diving honors for the second straight year. Abbott, a junior, finished with 12 top-three finishes during the 2002-2003 season. She placed fourth in the 1,650-yard freestyle at the American East Championship, sixth in the 500-yard freestyle and eighth in the 200-yard butterfly. She was also a member of three freestyle relay teams, the 200-yard, the 400-yard, and the 800-yard, which all finished fifth at the America East Championship. In addition, Abott is a two-time UMaine scholor-athlete award winner and holds the UMaine record in the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 400-yard freelstyle relay teams.

Jacob Jentzer from the University of Maine also earned the award as a member of the men’s swimming and diving team.