University of Kentucky gymnasts Nicole Allen and Jessie Lemp were named to the women’s Verizon At-Large Academic All-District IV first team, the College Sports Information Directors of America announced Thursday. With two selections, UK was the only school to place multiple student-athletes on the first team in its district. All student-athletes voted to the first team in each district will now be placed on the national ballot for the Academic All-America teams.

Allen, a native of Bowmansville, N.Y., makes her second consecutive appearance on the first team after earning the honor in 2001. A senior majoring in biology, Allen holds a 3.939 grade-point average and helped Kentucky finish the season with a No. 23 national ranking and its 16th NCAA regional appearance in 18 years. This season, she set career-highs on the uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise, while earning a spot on the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll. In addition, Allen is a member of UK’s prestigious Society of Character and a two-time NACGC/W Academic All-American.

A native of Houston, Texas, Lemp makes her first appearance on the all-district team. Also a senior majoring in biology with a 3.916 gpa, Lemp was a key component of the GymKats’ success this season, finishing the year second on the team on the bars and beam. She is a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll and NACGC/W Academic All-America selection, as well as an inductee in the UK Society of Character. Lemp received her degree from UK in May and will attend medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston this fall.

The Verizon At-Large team is selected by members of CoSIDA based on nominations from the following sports: crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, and water polo. Nominees must be a starter or important reserve, have a 3.20 cumulative gpa, reached sophomore athletic and academic standing and have completed at least one full academic year at the athlete’s insitution.