PAC-12 SCHOLAR-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Utah fifth-year Abby Paulson has been named the 2024 Pac-12 Women’s Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the Conference office announced on Saturday. The award, which is presented in each of the 24 sports the Pac-12 sponsors, was established to honor collegiate student-athletes that are standouts both academically and in their sports discipline. Paulson is the fourth Ute to receive the honor and first since Breanna Hughes in 2015-16. 

The Anoka, Michigan native is a double major in Kinesiology and Political Science, graduating in May 2024 with a 3.966 GPA. Highly accomplished in the classroom, Pauslon earned four WCGA Scholastic All-American honors and four All-Pac-12 Academics honors with her academic prowess making her a two CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree and a 2022 CoSIDA Academic All-American. 

The senior is just as impressive in the gym, collecting several honors throughout her career. Hitting 150-154 career routines, the 5th year has collected 19 total events wins with 15 on beam, including two Perfect 10s, and four wins on floor. 

At the conclusion of the regular season, Paulson had the second highest NQS average in the country on beam (9.936) after collecting four beam wins, with a Perfect 10 on senior night, and a one floor win. Throughout the season, she scored a 9.9 or higher on beam in 10 consecutive meets and a 9.9 or higher on floor in seven. During that span she eclipsed beam scores of 9.950 five times. The four-time All-American on beam (3 regular season, 1 NCAA), has collected three All-Pac-12 honors, two Pac-12 Beam Championship titles (‘21, ‘22) and has competed as a member of the 3x Pac-12 Championship and NCAA 3rd place team. 

An active member of the Utah community, Paulson has worked closely with Handstand Walk, a New York based pediatric cancer foundation, Utah and Minnesota Special Olympics, HERstory in the Making campaign, Midvale Boys and Girls Club and the SLC Mayors reelection campaign. Out of the gym, Paulson and her Red Rock teammate Makenna Smith have kick started their own student-athlete-charged podcast titled ‘Between the Banners’, telling the stories of student-athletes and the staff that assist and push them towards the goal of achieving Championships. 

Paulson is set to graduate in Spring 2024. 

In order to be eligible for the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, student-athletes must be a senior (in athletics eligibility) on track to receive a degree, have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, participate in at least 50 percent of the scheduled contests in the sport and have a minimum one year in residence at the institution. Each Pac-12 institution may nominate one individual per sport, and the winners are selected by a committee of Pac-12 staff members at the conclusion of each sport’s regular season. The athletics accomplishments of the nominees are a consideration in voting for the award.

A Scholar-Athlete of the Year is named in each of the Pac-12’s 24 sponsored sports: baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, beach volleyball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, football, men’s golf, women’s golf, women’s gymnastics, women’s lacrosse, men’s rowing, women’s rowing, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, softball, men’s swimming & diving, women’s swimming & diving, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s track & field, women’s track & field, women’s volleyball, and wrestling. The award was first established during the 2007-08 academic year. 

ALSO NOMINATED: Caroline Herry, ARIZ; Emily White, ASU; Andi Li, CAL; Chloe Widner, STAN; Chae Campbell, UCLA; Taylor Russon, WASH.