Phoenix, AZ – The Pacific West Conference unveiled its 2012-13 Scholar-Athletes of the Year for each of its 15 sports on Thursday, and Academy of Art's Crystal Superal earned the honor for women's golf. Superal received the award from the assistant commissioner Tom DiCamillo on this week's edition of PacWest Radio.

"Having been the first athlete ever recruited to the women's golf program, it's been an amazing experience," said Superal. "As a Multimedia Communications major, I have to do short-form videos and that includes shooting, editing, writing, and then producing it so it just takes so much more time. But sometimes if you love what you're doing, you don't even notice that it's work."

Crystal earned a GPA of 3.763 in Multimedia Communications at ART U, all while part of a women's golf team that made it to the D-II Super Regionals in Grand Junction, CO. She had four top-ten finishes, her highest being a fourth place finish at the Grand Canyon Fall Women's Invitational. Superal finished in sixth place at the inaugural PacWest Championships, earning her a spot on the All-PacWest First Team, and was the highest finisher for the Knights at the Super Regional.

"We are extremely proud of Crystal's achievement on the golf course and in the classroom," said Director of Athletics Colin Preston. "She has led Academy of Art for all four years here, on and off the course, and we wish her the best of luck in her post-Urban Knight career."

Each of the winners now will be placed on the 2012-13 Scholar Athlete of Year ballot to determine the top men's and women's student-athlete among all the competitors in the PacWest. That announcement will take place on Aug 1 on PacWest Radio. Superal was also nominated for the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year award, the results of which will be announced on Oct. 20 in Indianapolis, IN.