The University of Akron Athletics
Akron Places 15 Student-Athletes on MAC’s Distinguished Scholar Athlete List for Winter
May 10 | Track & Field, Women's Swimming & Diving, Academics
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FULL MAC RELEASE
CLEVELAND–The Mid-American Conference announced today the Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the eight winter sports during this 2017-18 academic season as 15 University of Akron student-athletes were voted by faculty athletics representatives at MAC institutions representing the 'best of the best' from each sport's Academic All-MAC Teams.
In all, 152 student-athletes from the league's eight sports (men's and women's basketball; women's gymnastics; men's and women's swimming & diving; men's and women's indoor track & field; and wrestling) were honored.
Akron was led with six honorees from men's indoor track & field, followed by five representatives from women's indoor track & field. Swimming & diving had four honorees.
The Distinguished Scholar Athlete is an award in its fourth year given to students who have excelled in athletics and academics. Following each season from the winter 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 athletics representatives selected the 'best of the best' of our Academic All-MAC Teams to be honored with Distinguished Scholar Athlete Award for the 2017-18 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.
2017-18 MAC Women's Swimming & Diving Distinguished Scholar Athletes (4):
Ellie Nebraska, Akron, Sophomore, 3.976 GPA, Respiratory Therapy (Columbus, OH)
Jackie Pash, Akron, Sophomore, 3.380 GPA, Early Childhood Education (Carmel, IN)
Mackenzie Vargas, Akron, Sophomore, 3.763 GPA, Business Administration (Roseville, CA)
Morgan Waggoner, Akron, Sophomore, 3.913 GPA, Biology (Fremont, OH)
2017-18 Men's Indoor Track & Field Distinguished Scholar Athletes (6):
Preston Fillman, Akron, Sophomore, 3.609 GPA, Mechanical Engineering (Hanoverton, OH)
Malik Hudson, Akron, Sophomore, 3.245 GPA, Media Studies (Cleveland, OH)
Matt Ludwig, Akron, Junior, 3.831 GPA, Biomedical Engineering (Chardon, OH)
*Curtis Richardson, Akron, Junior, 3.328 GPA, Media Studies (Blacklick, OH)
Taron Slone, Akron, Senior, 3.770 GPA, Sport Science (Graduate) (Columbus, OH)
Nick Winkler, Akron, Senior, 3.591 GPA, Finance (Wadsworth, OH)
2017-18 MAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Distinguished Scholar Athletes (5):
*Mackenzie Andrews, Akron, Junior, 3.848 GPA, Physical/Health Education (Toowoomba, Australia)
Lucy Bryan, Akron, Sophomore, 3.284 GPA, Sport Management (Bristol, England)
Patricia Ortega, Akron, Senior, 3.969 GPA, Sport Science/Coaching (master's) (Logrono, Spain)
Ariadna Ramos Gandia, Akron, Senior, 3.940 GPA, Sport Science/Coaching (master's) (Barcelona, Spain)
*^Jackie Siefring, Akron, Senior, 3.668 GPA, Biomedical Engineering (Covington, OH)
FULL MAC RELEASE
CLEVELAND–The Mid-American Conference announced today the Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the eight winter sports during this 2017-18 academic season as 15 University of Akron student-athletes were voted by faculty athletics representatives at MAC institutions representing the 'best of the best' from each sport's Academic All-MAC Teams.
In all, 152 student-athletes from the league's eight sports (men's and women's basketball; women's gymnastics; men's and women's swimming & diving; men's and women's indoor track & field; and wrestling) were honored.
Akron was led with six honorees from men's indoor track & field, followed by five representatives from women's indoor track & field. Swimming & diving had four honorees.
The Distinguished Scholar Athlete is an award in its fourth year given to students who have excelled in athletics and academics. Following each season from the winter 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 athletics representatives selected the 'best of the best' of our Academic All-MAC Teams to be honored with Distinguished Scholar Athlete Award for the 2017-18 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 spring, the MAC will announce the Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the remaining eight spring sports sponsored by the Conference.
2017-18 MAC Women's Swimming & Diving Distinguished Scholar Athletes (4):
Ellie Nebraska, Akron, Sophomore, 3.976 GPA, Respiratory Therapy (Columbus, OH)
Jackie Pash, Akron, Sophomore, 3.380 GPA, Early Childhood Education (Carmel, IN)
Mackenzie Vargas, Akron, Sophomore, 3.763 GPA, Business Administration (Roseville, CA)
Morgan Waggoner, Akron, Sophomore, 3.913 GPA, Biology (Fremont, OH)
2017-18 Men's Indoor Track & Field Distinguished Scholar Athletes (6):
Preston Fillman, Akron, Sophomore, 3.609 GPA, Mechanical Engineering (Hanoverton, OH)
Malik Hudson, Akron, Sophomore, 3.245 GPA, Media Studies (Cleveland, OH)
Matt Ludwig, Akron, Junior, 3.831 GPA, Biomedical Engineering (Chardon, OH)
*Curtis Richardson, Akron, Junior, 3.328 GPA, Media Studies (Blacklick, OH)
Taron Slone, Akron, Senior, 3.770 GPA, Sport Science (Graduate) (Columbus, OH)
Nick Winkler, Akron, Senior, 3.591 GPA, Finance (Wadsworth, OH)
2017-18 MAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Distinguished Scholar Athletes (5):
*Mackenzie Andrews, Akron, Junior, 3.848 GPA, Physical/Health Education (Toowoomba, Australia)
Lucy Bryan, Akron, Sophomore, 3.284 GPA, Sport Management (Bristol, England)
Patricia Ortega, Akron, Senior, 3.969 GPA, Sport Science/Coaching (master's) (Logrono, Spain)
Ariadna Ramos Gandia, Akron, Senior, 3.940 GPA, Sport Science/Coaching (master's) (Barcelona, Spain)
*^Jackie Siefring, Akron, Senior, 3.668 GPA, Biomedical Engineering (Covington, OH)
*2016-17 Distinguished Scholar Athlete
^2015-16 Distinguished Scholar Athlete
Players Mentioned
Mid-Distance
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Multis
/ Track & Field
Multis
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Free/Back
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Multis
/ Track & Field
IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Jumps
/ Track & Field
Multis
/ Track & Field
Sprints
/ Track & Field
Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Distance
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