Culver-Stockton College freshman Skyler Barger has been named the Missouri National Guard Student Athlete of the Month for February.

Barger, a two-sport athlete from Buhl, Idaho (Buhl HS), is a forward for the Wildcat women's soccer team and a distance runner for the Wildcat track and field team. In her first year on the pitch, Barger netted three goals and two assists as the Wildcats finished with a 9-8-1 overall record, its first wining campaign since 2003.

This winter, Barger has been busy with the indoor track and field team, participating in the 800-meter and one mile runs. She set a school record in the mile at the Dr. Jim Green Invitational with a time of 5:43.04, smashing the old mark by 48 seconds. A week later, Barger won both events at the Knox Invitational and earned Heart of America Athletic Conference Track Athlete of the Week honors

Off the playing fields, Barger is an athletic training major who was named to the Dean's List (3.5-3.99 GPA) after her first semester on the Hill. Among her other activities, Skyler is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Citizen Soldiers have been defending our freedom since 1636. From every major conflict since the Revolutionary War, to Natural disaster relief, Guardsmen have been answering the call worldwide and stateside.

By serving part time in the Missouri Army National Guard you could earn many benefits that include 100 percent tuition assistance, up to 50,000 in student loan repayment, and even a monthly paycheck just by serving one weekend a month, two weeks a year. Please contact your local National Guard recruiter SSG Richy Kohler at 1-800-Go-Guard or go to www.moguard.com for more information on becoming freedoms next defender!