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2013 Spring Commencement Photo Gallery
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Former Cleveland State cross country runner Kelly Zaleski has been named the Spring 2013 College of Nursing Valedictorian as well as the Spring 2013 Class Valedictorian. Zaleski was selected as her college valedictorian by a group of Nursing faculty members, and was then selected by the Assistant Deans as the class valedictorian for the second ceremony at the 2013 Spring Commencement - which consists of the Colleges of Business, Education & Human Services, Urban Affairs, and Nursing.
Zaleski, who served as a student assistant coach for the Vikings this season, is the second cross country runner to earn the honors of being named a valedictorian this year - as Brittany Elmlinger was named the Fall 2012 Class Valedictorian.
"I am extremely proud of Kelly and all she has accomplished during her time at Cleveland State, both as a student and as an athlete," head coach Joe Jaketic said. "There are many demands placed on the student-athlete and Kelly successfully handled all of the rigors of being a student-athlete. Her excellence in time management allowed her to balance her studies with all aspects of being on a NCAA Division I Athletic team."
Zaleski owns a 3.93 cumulative GPA and will graduate this weekend with a degree in Nursing. Throughout her time at Cleveland State Zaleski has been a part of the Honors Program and earned a spot on the Dean's List following every term that she has been enrolled.
As a senior, Zaleski served as SAAC President (2011-12), while she was also the SAAC secretary during 2010-11 and the cross country representative during 2009-10. Zaleski was a four-time John Konstantinos Athletic Academic Honors recipient, and helped the cross country team earn CSU's `Best of the Best' award during 2011 and 2010, while also leading the Vikings to four straight NCAA Division I USTFCCCA All-Academic Team nominations.
"Kelly was an integral member of the cross country team throughout her career, and much of the team's success can be attributed to her. During her four years of competition she was a top-five CSU finisher in 34 of 36 races. She is an exemplary student-athlete, always leading by example," Jaketic said.
Throughout her time as part of the cross country team, Zaleski posted three of the top-50 5K times under head coach Joe Jaketic and two of the top-20 6K times. She recorded a career-best 5K time of 19:47 as a junior, while she notched a career-best 6K time of 23:50 also as a junior. During her senior season, she led the Vikings to a fourth place finish at the 2011 Horizon League Championship - their best finish in program history.
"She has always embraced added team responsibilities with enthusiasm and energy. She always represented herself, the cross country team, the athletic department, and Cleveland State University with dignity, respect, and class. I have valued her hard work and dependability and I couldn't be more proud of her being named the 2013 Class Valedictorian," Jaketic said.
Following graduation, Zaleski will be employed as a Registered Nurse at a local hospital.
