INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.- Kim Black, a former Georgia swimmer and gold medalist at the 2000 Olympic Games, was honored Sunday night as a recipient of the NCAA Today's Top VIII Award at a banquet at the Sagamore Ballroom of the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis. The award honors eight distinguished student-athletes from the preceding calendar year for achievement in athletics, achievement in academics, character and leadership.

"As always, we are extremely proud of Kim," said Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle. "She has done so much for our program and the University of Georgia."

Black's distinction marks the fifth consecutive year that a student-athlete from Georgia has been a winner of the Top VIII Award and the sixth recipient overall. Terry Hoage, who was a two-time All-American in football, was Georgia's first winner in January of 1984 when the award was NCAA Top VI, but it was 13 years later before the Bulldogs claimed winner No. 2 in swimmer Lisa Coole in 1997. Football player Matt Stinchcomb followed in 1998, and track and field star Debbie Ferguson was honored in 1999. Last year fellow swimmer and Olympian Kristy Kowal was a recipient.

"It is unprecedented that we've had five winners in a row from Georgia, especially with three being swimmers," added Bauerle.

Recognition for the group at Sunday's Honors Dinner is in conjunction with the NCAA Convention. CBS Sports broadcaster Clark Kellogg served as master of ceremonies for the event. Kellogg, a graduate of Ohio State University, was a standout basketball player at his alma mater and the 1982 No. 1 draft pick of the NBA's Indiana Pacers.

"It is great to be up here at the NCAA Hall of Champions and see our banners and now the plaques of the outstanding student-athletes that we have had," said Bauerle. "It is a tremendous point of pride for everyone at Georgia and a terrific thing to see."

In addition to Black, the 2001 Top VIII honorees include Emily Bloss, a basketball and outdoor track and field student-athlete from Emporia State University; Andr