The University of Akron Athletics
Eight Zips Named MAC Distinguished Scholars for 2018 Fall Campaigns
December 28 | Cross Country, Football, General, Men's Soccer, Women's Volleyball, Academics
Follow Akron Athletics on Twitter and Facebook
2018 FALL MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR RELEASE
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference recently announced the Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the seven fall sports during this 2018-19 academic season as eight University of Akron student-athletes were voted by faculty athletic representatives at MAC institutions representing the 'best of the best' from each sport's Academic All-MAC Teams.
In all, 110 student-athletes from the league's seven fall sports (men's cross country, women's cross country, women's field hockey, football, men's soccer, women's soccer, and women's volleyball) were honored.
Akron had at least one representative from five of its six fall sports, led by a trio of representatives from women's volleyball, while football earned a pair of selections and men's and women's cross country and men's soccer rounded out the award winners with one honoree each.
The Distinguished Scholar Athlete is a fifth-year award given to students who have excelled in athletics and academics. Following each season from the fall sports schedule, any student with a 3.20 GPA and participation in at least 50 percent of the contests was automatically named to the previously announced Academic All-MAC Team from each sport. Also, first-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence were not eligible for the award.
From the Academic All-MAC Teams, the faculty athletic representatives selected the 'best of the best' of our Academic All-MAC Teams to be honored with a 3.50 GPA or higher with the Distinguished Scholar Athlete Award for the 2018-19 season. The number of Distinguished Scholar Athletes from each sport were equivalent to the number of first-team selections or 20 percent of nominees, whichever was greater.
Later this winter and spring, the MAC will announce the Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the remaining 16 winter and spring sports sponsored by the Conference.
2018 MAC Volleyball Distinguished Scholar-Athletes (3):
Kayla Gwozdz, Sr., 3.994, Social Work (Temperance, Mich.)
Ashley Richardson, Jr., 3.962, Sport Management (Doylestown, Ohio)
Taylor Sharrits, So., 3.900, Mechanical Engineering (Concord, Ohio)
2018 MAC Football Distinguished Scholar Athletes (2):
Jamal Baggett, Sr., 3.700, Sport Science & Coaching (Oak Park, Ill.)
Dylan Meeks, So., 3.949, Exercise Science, Pre-Physical Therapy (Orlando, Fla.)
2018 MAC Men's Cross Country Distinguished Scholar Athletes (1):
Tevin Brown, Jr. (R), 3.796, Special Education (Toledo, Ohio)
2018 MAC Women's Cross Country Distinguished Scholar-Athletes (1):
Mackenzie Andrews, Jr. (R), 3.878, Physical/Health Education (Toowoomba, Australia)
2018 MAC Men's Soccer Distinguished Scholar Athletes (1):
Daniel Strachan, So., 3.528, Business (Lakewood, Ohio)
2018 FALL MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR RELEASE
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference recently announced the Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the seven fall sports during this 2018-19 academic season as eight University of Akron student-athletes were voted by faculty athletic representatives at MAC institutions representing the 'best of the best' from each sport's Academic All-MAC Teams.
In all, 110 student-athletes from the league's seven fall sports (men's cross country, women's cross country, women's field hockey, football, men's soccer, women's soccer, and women's volleyball) were honored.
Akron had at least one representative from five of its six fall sports, led by a trio of representatives from women's volleyball, while football earned a pair of selections and men's and women's cross country and men's soccer rounded out the award winners with one honoree each.
The Distinguished Scholar Athlete is a fifth-year award given to students who have excelled in athletics and academics. Following each season from the fall sports schedule, any student with a 3.20 GPA and participation in at least 50 percent of the contests was automatically named to the previously announced Academic All-MAC Team from each sport. Also, first-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence were not eligible for the award.
From the Academic All-MAC Teams, the faculty athletic representatives selected the 'best of the best' of our Academic All-MAC Teams to be honored with a 3.50 GPA or higher with the Distinguished Scholar Athlete Award for the 2018-19 season. The number of Distinguished Scholar Athletes from each sport were equivalent to the number of first-team selections or 20 percent of nominees, whichever was greater.
Later this winter and spring, the MAC will announce the Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the remaining 16 winter and spring sports sponsored by the Conference.
2018 MAC Volleyball Distinguished Scholar-Athletes (3):
Kayla Gwozdz, Sr., 3.994, Social Work (Temperance, Mich.)
Ashley Richardson, Jr., 3.962, Sport Management (Doylestown, Ohio)
Taylor Sharrits, So., 3.900, Mechanical Engineering (Concord, Ohio)
2018 MAC Football Distinguished Scholar Athletes (2):
Jamal Baggett, Sr., 3.700, Sport Science & Coaching (Oak Park, Ill.)
Dylan Meeks, So., 3.949, Exercise Science, Pre-Physical Therapy (Orlando, Fla.)
2018 MAC Men's Cross Country Distinguished Scholar Athletes (1):
Tevin Brown, Jr. (R), 3.796, Special Education (Toledo, Ohio)
2018 MAC Women's Cross Country Distinguished Scholar-Athletes (1):
Mackenzie Andrews, Jr. (R), 3.878, Physical/Health Education (Toowoomba, Australia)
2018 MAC Men's Soccer Distinguished Scholar Athletes (1):
Daniel Strachan, So., 3.528, Business (Lakewood, Ohio)
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
S
/ Football
/ Cross Country
LS
/ Women's Volleyball
TE/DL
/ Football
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
D
/ Men's Soccer2025 Zips Weekly with Joe Moorhead - Episode #13 - Bowling Green Recap - 11.20.25
Friday, November 21
2025-26 Akron Zips Women's Basketball Post-Game Press Conference vs. Binghamton - 11/20/25
Friday, November 21
2025 Akron Zips Cheer - Team Impact Press Conference with Skylar - 11/17/25
Tuesday, November 18
2025 Akron Zips Men's Soccer Selection Show Comments - 11/17/25
Monday, November 17
