Irvine, CA—The Big West announced recently that UC Riverside track athlete Mathew Vasel and golfer Haley Wian are the Highlanders' conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The pair, along with their counterparts from the other eight member institutions, are being honored at a special banquet on Thursday, March 10 at the Wyndham hotel in Anaheim, California. 

A junior member of the Highlanders women's golf team, Wian is a two-time Big West Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year honoree.  She helped lead the squad to their first ever top-60 national ranking during the 2015 season and has been named team captain by her teammates for 2015-16. 

She earned the prestigious Highlander Award, honoring academic and athletics success, and was recognized at the 2015 UCR Honors Convocation with the presentation of a Dean's Academic Distinction pin. She also received the UC Riverside Harper Scholarship for academic excellence. 

Wian volunteered with the Special Olympics last year, and caddied for the USA golf team. She also spends time volunteering with the Untied Way.

A Business Administration major, Haley hopes to earn her tour card at Q school.  After her competitive career, she plans to combine her love of golf and her degree by working in the golf industry.  

A senior sprinter for the Highlanders track and field program, Vasel anchored the 4x100m Relay Team last season. He also participated in the 100m, 200m and 400m throughout the year.

Vasel transferred to UC Riverside from Riverside City College, and has earned Dean's List honors in every term of enrollment. He was named to the Chancellor's List in Spring of 2015.

The Apple Valley, California native has served as an assistant track and field coach at his alma mater, Martin Luther King Jr. High School, and has also coached youth football. 

An English major, his career goal is to teach at his high school and to coach track and field.