LEXINGTON, Va. – Senior Hannah Granger, distance runner for the VMI women's cross country and track and field programs, was awarded VMI's Three-Legged Stool at the Keydet Club Scholarship Award Banquet, held this past Saturday at the Institute.

The honor is the top award given by the VMI Keydet Club Inc. to a cadet-athlete from the senior class, and Granger becomes the second-consecutive female cadet to earn the Three-Legged Stool. The award is given to the First Classman who best exemplifies the three aspects of a VMI education: Athletics, Academics and Military/Leadership. The honor has been given out yearly by the VMI Keydet Club since 2001, and Giles H. Miller '24 is traditionally recognized as coining the term “Three-Legged Stool”.

"It is an honor to even be considered for this prestigious award,” said Granger. “To receive it is beyond incredible, as well as quite humbling. Without the consistent support and encouragement of my family, friends, teammates and coaches, I would not be where I am today, achieved what I have been able to achieve, or enjoyed the process to the extent I have. This award also means nothing without the context it was awarded in, as a reflection of those who made it possible, both for me, and all previous recipients of the Three-Legged Stool."

“This is a great accomplishment for Hannah and the cross country and track programs as a whole,” said VMI cross country coach Paul Spangler. “My hat goes off to her as she has worked very hard over the last four years to receive such an honor.”

Granger's list of athletic accomplishments is well-known, as she was the Big South Cross Country Champion last season and will seek to defend her title on Oct. 30. She also won the 5K at the 2010 Big South Indoor Championships, as well as the 2009 10K at the Big South outdoor meet, a win that made her the first VMI woman to win a conference crown in a track event. Granger is a nine-time all-conference honoree, a two-time ECAC qualifier and a four-time member of various Big South All-Academic teams.

“The Keydet Club is proud of all that Hannah Granger '11 has accomplished during her cadetship.  She was the clear selection enabling us to continue the tradition of recognizing VMI's top all-around cadet-athlete," remarked Greg Cavallaro '84, CEO of the VMI Keydet Club.  He added, “The Keydet Club's Annual Scholarship Awards Banquet, brings together all of our scholarship athlete recipients, their parents, coaches and the donors and fund representatives who make their educations possible.  The Three-Legged Stool Award was the highlight of a fantastic evening in support of VMI athletics and our outstanding cadet-athletes.”

Away from the track, Granger has been very active. She has been involved in the Big Brother/Big Sister program, has been a Summer Transition Program (STP) counselor, an academic mentor, part of the recycling club at VMI, and has partook of numerous other opportunities for volunteer and academic-related work. From a military perspective, she served as a company corporal during the 08-09 year, before advancing to Second Battalion S6 Lt. this year. Academically, Granger's GPA sits at approximately 3.4, as she is a multiple-time Dean's List and Big South Presidential Honor Roll recipient from within her psychology major.

“I am excited for Hannah, as she has worked hard on and off the track and this award is well-deserved,” said VMI's Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Darrin Webb. “I am also excited about the opportunities that Hannah, along with the rest of the women's cross country team, have ahead at the Big South Championship. Coach Spangler, along with this group of young women led by Hannah, have helped form an exciting future for VMI's women's cross country program. I am confident that Hannah, along with her teammates, will do what they do, achieving the successes desired by all of us.”