General | 2/13/2015 11:48:00 AM

58% Over 3.0 GPA
  
            (Clarion, Pa.): A total of 164 Clarion University student athletes (46%) were honored as "Scholar Athletes" on Friday, February 6, 2015 at the 25^th Annual Bob Carlson Scholar Athlete Luncheon held in the Gemmell multi-purpose room.
 
            Athletic Director Dave Katis also announced that 58% of the current student-athletes have achieved a 3.0 or above, a new athletic department record.
 
            Also honored for achievement during the luncheon were the Clarion Women's Soccer team, Dr. Chad Smith, Clarion Student Senate and Connie Laughlin.

 

             Clarion President Dr. Karen Whitney praised the scholar-athletes, faculty and staff in her opening remarks.  "This is one of my absolute favorite events because of what the people assembled in this room represent.  The commitment to excellence is reflected by the number of scholar athletes, the outstanding teaching and mentoring from our faculty, staff and coaches and the athletes themselves." Then, talking directly to the athletes President Whitney added, "Events like today show that you are definitely worth our investment in you, not only as the exemplary athletes that your are, but as the outstanding students you are."
 
            Clarion Athletic Director Dave Katis, along with Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Richard Lane, opened the luncheon by welcoming the athletes, faculty and staff, administration and special guests.
 
            Katis praised the 164 S-A's representing 46% of the overall athletes as the second highest in the program's 25-year history. The record was set last year with 166 scholar athletes which was 47%. He went on to say that 58% of Clarion's student athletes have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
 
            Katis presented the annual Carlson Cup Team Award to the Women's Soccer team (photo at bottom of story), led by head coach Sean Esterhuizen. The award goes to the intercollegiate athletic team that shows the biggest overall increase in GPA during the past calendar year. The award is named after Bob Carlson, who started the Scholar Athlete luncheon in 1991 and was Clarion's athletic director from 1990 – 2005.
 

            Later in the program, Student Athlete Advisory Committee President Eric White, a member of the football team, presented Dr. Chad Smith, Associate Professor of the Management & Marketing Department of the College of Business Administration and Information Sciences, with the "Faculty of the Year" award, as voted on by SAAC, representing all student athletes.
 
            "This award represents excellence both inside and outside the classroom," said White. "Dr. Smith is an outstanding professor who also has a strong interest in athletics. He goes beyond the traditional role, attends competitions and really makes an effort to know and help student athletes on a personal level."
 
            "This honor was really unexpected, but a moment I will truly cherish for the rest of my life," said Dr. Smith. "I believe the true recognition goes to every student-athlete honored here today. It takes great discipline, sacrifice and commitment to successfully balance school, athletics and life. These individuals will be the ones to watch in the future."
 
            Also honored with "Extra Effort" Awards by Katis were the Clarion University Student Senate and Connie J. Laughlin, Director of Planning & Assessment for Student Affairs.
 
            Katis expressed his appreciation to the Clarion Student Senate prior to presenting their award. "After the athletic task force made its recommendations last year, Student Senate was the first one to step up for athletics. They increased operating funds of our athletic programs by 20%, which has already had a major impact on our teams. We thank them for being the outstanding leaders they obviously are."
 
            Said current Clarion Student Senate President Marissa N. Kealey, "Our athletic teams are such a huge presence on the campus. Even though I wasn't there for the planning process for this proposal, I am proud of the results and the investment we are placing on not only the athletic programs?, but the scholarships as well."
 
            Representing Student Senate were President Kealey, Darren Young, Clarion University Student Trustee, Todd Garrett, RUO Appropriations Ad Hoc Committee and Josh Domitrovich, RUO Ad Hoc Committee.

 

             Katis also thanked Connie Laughlin for efforts. "Its time we honor Connie for all of her help, past and present at Clarion University," said Katis.  "She has worked on numerous plans for athletics and behind the scenes has gone out of her way to help athletics over the years." 
 
            "I am honored to receive this award," said Laughlin. "It has been a pleasure working with the Athletics Department and others that engage students and support their success.  It's also exciting to see the plans for enhancing programs and facilities for not only student-athletes but also all Clarion students."
 
            To be named a Clarion University "Scholar Athlete," student-athletes must: achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or higher; have two consecutive semesters of a 3.2 grade point average or higher in the spring and fall terms of 2014; or be a freshman or new transfer who achieved a 3.2 grade point average or higher in the fall 2014 term.

 

Scholar-athletes for 2015 include: Baseball
Nathan Bonfardine, Tyler Falk, Joshua Friel, Wesley Lang, Brian Laurito, Joseph Lopez, Josh Ponsall, Sean White.
 
Men's Basketball
Aaron Johnson
 
Women's Basketball
Jasmine Boyd, Cara Cook, Hannah Heeter, Jennifer Straw.
 
Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Allison Adams, Hannah Bowman, Michelle Brown, Jordan Collins, Courtney Corban, Kylee Deal, Taylor Donia, Sydney Dubensky, Rebeca Dudek, Lauryn Greggs, Courtney Gross, Jessica Hamrick, Katie Helwig, Danielle Konopski, Kelsey Murray, Tara Peterson, Anna Pfingstler, Rachel Raybuck, Milea Reynolds, Jessica Shomo, Alexa Stubenrauch, Danielle Tarr, Susan Timko, Danielle Vensel.
 
Football
Scott Ayers, Ryan Barrick, Tyrone Butler, Gage Clark, Cameron Cress, Shane Cress, Jared Davis, Zach Deitrick, Tyler Edwards, George Giovanni, Julian Howsare, Matt Koerper, Eddie Kurtz, Adam Lynch, Caleb Mancini, Demetrius McKenzie, Cory McNamara, Brian Palmiere,
Nate Payne, Eric White, Josh Wiskeman, David Younkin.
 
Men's Golf
Logan Depto, Loren Dukate, Sean Edgar, Paul Fischione, Damien Granda, Adam Harrington.
 
Women's Golf
Audrianna Delacour, Lindsay Finke, Danielle Graham, Jillian Love, Erin Lynch, Ashley Olivier,
Larissa Roberts.
 
Women's Soccer
Kelly Antonucci, Anna Chamberlin, Taylor Donia, Rhianon Fowler, Brittany Kowatch, Stephanie Lias, Aubrey Monte, Maddie Meyers, Aaliyah Odom, Erin Rodgers, Autumn Rosenberg, Stephanie Sikora, Alissa Spencer, Taylor Starr, Alexa Stubenrauch, Mariah Treiber,
Kathleen Warner.
 
Softball
Megan Anderson, Paige Baker, Emily Barber, Allison Bertolino, Shawnna Crago, Kiersten Gromley, Lydia Middaugh, Marissa Peterson, Taylor Powell, Cassidy Runyan, Tierra Shope, Carra Stevens, Jordan Syfert, Christina Tressler, Casey Wilcox, Chelsea Zola.
 
Men's Swimming & Diving
Matthew Bair, Jackson Gray, Jon Haycock, Travis Myers, Wade Reichelderfer.
 
Women's Swimming & Diving
Sydney Briner, Kelsie Conrad, Stephanie Croft, Summer Dacheux, Kristin Day, Dominique Gerlach, Kaitlin Gore, Emilee Gysegem, Caitlyn Kaufman, Breanna Kothe, Alexis Lopez,
Anna Marie McNurlen, Noelle Melani, Amanda O'Kane, Emily Ondrizek, Katherine Querciagrossa, Kelsey Slayton, Lauren Slayton, Tracy Strong, Lauren Szoszorek, Paige Williams, Rachel Wrotniewski, Sarah Zerfoss.
 
Tennis
Megan Bettwy, Jessica Dgien, Corie Eckman, Jessica Kennelly, Kaitlyn Mulligan, Madeline Robinson, Maria Snyder, Lauren Zezenski.
 
Volleyball
Carlie Bieranowski, Shelby Coughenor, Abbey Cox, Laura Duncan, Victoria Evans, Catherine Ferragonio, Morgan Herold, Kaley Pittsley, Jessica Samuels, Morgan Seybold, Kelly Shannon,
Laura Subject, Mattison Thornton, Jocelyn Uchic.
 
Wrestling
Kyle Braddock, Seth Carr, Evan Delong, Nick Gavazzi, Kyle Greenwald, Matthew Liggett,
Michael Pavasko, Edgar Ruano, Samuel Sherlock, Brock Zacherl, Brodie Zacherl.