WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Gallaudet University Athletics Department recently announced the two recipients for the Bison of the Month award presented by Gallaudet Interpreting Service (GIS) for March. Baseball sophomore William Bissell (Brewer, Maine) and women's track and field sophomore Mariah Ransom (Snellville, Ga.) were this month’s selections for their outstanding performance as Bison student-athletes.

Bissell excelled as he led the Bison to an 11-8 record in March. He was also a key contributor as he helped the Bison win 11 out 12 games, which included an eight-game win streak. During the month of March, Bissell hit a staggering .442 (27-for-61). The preseason D3Baseball.com All-American also racked up five doubles, six triples and one home run. He also knocked in 12 runs and stole eight bases. The sophomore outfielder was also named North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) West Baseball Student-Athlete of the Week for the week on March 19. Bissell recorded a hit in 16 out of the 19 games played in March, which included eight multi-hit games.

“William had an excellent month for us,” said Gallaudet baseball coach Curtis Pride. “He continues to improve as the season moves along.”

Ransom burst onto the scene with a spectacular March. The sophomore hurdler re-wrote the record books twice in the 100 and 400-meter hurdles. Her time of 15:39 in the 100-meter hurdles and 1:06.98 in the 400-meter hurdles each broke her school records that she set the week before. Her efforts got her the win in both events, as she was more then a second better then second place in both events.

“Mariah is very coachable and responds well to what I ask her to do,” said Gallaudet track and field coach Mikaela Hudson. “She transitions well from practice to competition.”

This is the seventh Bison of the Month Award for the 2011-2012 season. April’s Bison of the Month will be released in May.

About GIS
GIS, a unit of the division of Administration and Finance at Gallaudet University was established to provide quality-sign language interpreting service to Gallaudet University and its constituencies. Last year, over 75,000 hours of interpreting services were provided to Gallaudet University and clients in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia areas. The passage of the 1992 Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) made equal access for all persons with disabilities the law. This law requires that "reasonable accommodation" be made to allow individuals with disabilities to participate and receive the same services and benefits available to those without disabilities. Gallaudet Interpreting Service (GIS) can assist you with meeting the requirements of the ADA by providing quality, reliable interpreting service for your events. For more information or to contact GIS please visit its website at www.gallaudet.edu/gis.

2011-12 GU Bison of the Month award winners

• February: Brian Bennett (MSWIM), Alexandra Polivanchuk (WSWIM)
• January: Alexandra Polivanchuk (WSWIM), Tony Tatum (MBB)
• December: Elena Ciccarelli (WBB), DJ Everton-Lovell (MSWIM)
• November: Brian Bennett (MSWIM), Kali Frowick (WVB)
• October: Jean-Pierre Kanashiro (MSOC), Shadoe Williamson (WXC)
• September: Jaris Alleyne (FB), Sarah Tubert (WVB)