INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA has named Jenny Hansen, a former University of Kentucky gymnastics student-athlete and a 13-time all-American, its most outstanding gymnast over the past 25 years in NCAA championship competition. The honor was bestowed in conjunction with the NCAA’s celebration surrounding the 25th Anniversary of Women’s Championships.

Hansen dominated her competition winning eight NCAA gymnastics championships titles. She is the first and only woman to win three straight NCAA all-around titles (1993, 94, 95), and also captured NCAA titles on the balance beam (1994, 1995), vault (1994, 1995) and floor exercise (1995).

Hansen was a three-time Honda Broderick gymnastics award winner. In 1995, Hansen was named the Southeastern Conference Female Athlete of the Year. She set and continues to hold every individual gymnastics record in UK school history. Additionally, in 1995 she was only the second female ever to win the “Kentucky Sportsman of the Year” award.

In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Hansen demonstrated her leadership by giving motivational speeches to middle school children and to various University of Kentucky programs. She graduated with a degree in animal science specified equine.

Also nominated for the NCAA Most Outstanding Gymnast honor were:

• Kim Arnold, University of Georgia
• Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA
• Kelly Garrison-Steves, University of Oklahoma
• Kim Hamilton, UCLA
• Penny Hauschild, University of Alabama
• Kristen Maloney, UCLA
• Missy Marlowe, University of Utah
• Megan Marsden (McCunniff), University of Utah
• Hope Spivey, University of Georgia

The NCAA 25th Anniversary Most Outstanding Gymnast recipient was selected by coaches association members affiliated with the sport of gymnastics. Oregon State University will host the 2006 NCAA Gymnastics Championships April 20-22 in Corvallis, Oregon.

In 1981, the NCAA began sponsoring women’s championships, which opened the door to increased athletic and academic opportunities for female athletes. Today, the NCAA sponsors 44 women’s championships in 20 sports, providing more than 150,000 women with an opportunity to compete for national titles each year.

The following NCAA women’s sports are celebrating their 25th anniversary during the 2005-06 athletic season: Division I and III women’s field hockey; Division I, II and III women’s cross country; Division I, II and III women’s volleyball; Division I, II and III women’s swimming; Division I, II and III women’s basketball; National Collegiate women’s gymnastics; Division I, II and III women’s tennis; Division I women’s golf; Division I women’s lacrosse; Division I women’s rowing; Division I and II softball; and Division I, II and III women’s outdoor track.