Eastern Michigan Athletics
MAC Names 10 Eagles Distinguished Scholar Athletes
12/22/2018 11:56:00 AM | Men's XC, Women's XC, Football, Soccer, Volleyball, General
The 10 were recognized as the 'best of the best' from each sport's Academic All-MAC teams
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — The Mid-American Conference announced Saturday, Dec. 22, its list of Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the seven fall sports for the 2018-19 academic season. Out of 110 student-athletes on the list, 10 Eagles were recognized as the 'best of the best' from each sport's Academic All-MAC teams.
With its best conference finish since 1995, the football team was the most represented for EMU with four players earning the conference's Distinguished Scholar-Athlete accolade. Meanwhile, the four-time defending league champion women's cross country squad had two make the list, while two volleyball players were tabbed as well. Out of EMU's 10 MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes, nine boasted a grade point average of 3.6-or-better, including four with a 3.9-or-better.
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 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 33 percent of nominees, whichever was greater.
The Distinguished Scholar Athlete is a fourth 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.
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.
Men's Cross Country Distinguished Scholar Athletes (8):
*Austin Wicker, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 4.00 GPA, Nursing (Pinckney, Mich.)
Women's Cross Country Distinguished Scholar-Athletes (10):
*#Natalie Cizmas, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.72 GPA, Exercise Science (Clinton Township. Mich.)
*#Sydney Meyers, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.90 GPA, Marketing (Zionsville, Ind.)
Women's Soccer Distinguished Scholar Athletes (17):
Kristin Hullibarger, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 4.00 GPA, Sport Management (Brooklyn, Ontario, Canada)
Volleyball Distinguished Scholar-Athletes (21):
Jordan Smith, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.88, Psychology/Communication (Solon, Iowa)
Mallory Rajewski, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.56, Elementary Education (Midland, Michigan)
Football Distinguished Scholar Athletes (30):
Blake Banham, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.64 GPA, Criminology and Criminal Justice (St. Paul, Minn.)
*Brody Hoying, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.69 GPA, Supply Chain Management (Coldwater, Ohio)
Steve Nielsen, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.67 GPA, Sport Management (Dragoer, Denmark)
Mike Van Hoeven, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.95 GPA, Exercise Science (Paw Paw, Mich.)
*2017 Distinguished Scholar-Athlete
#2016 Distinguished Scholar-Athlete
^2015 Distinguished Scholar-Athlete
With its best conference finish since 1995, the football team was the most represented for EMU with four players earning the conference's Distinguished Scholar-Athlete accolade. Meanwhile, the four-time defending league champion women's cross country squad had two make the list, while two volleyball players were tabbed as well. Out of EMU's 10 MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes, nine boasted a grade point average of 3.6-or-better, including four with a 3.9-or-better.
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 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 33 percent of nominees, whichever was greater.
The Distinguished Scholar Athlete is a fourth 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.
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.
Men's Cross Country Distinguished Scholar Athletes (8):
*Austin Wicker, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 4.00 GPA, Nursing (Pinckney, Mich.)
Women's Cross Country Distinguished Scholar-Athletes (10):
*#Natalie Cizmas, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.72 GPA, Exercise Science (Clinton Township. Mich.)
*#Sydney Meyers, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.90 GPA, Marketing (Zionsville, Ind.)
Women's Soccer Distinguished Scholar Athletes (17):
Kristin Hullibarger, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 4.00 GPA, Sport Management (Brooklyn, Ontario, Canada)
Volleyball Distinguished Scholar-Athletes (21):
Jordan Smith, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.88, Psychology/Communication (Solon, Iowa)
Mallory Rajewski, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.56, Elementary Education (Midland, Michigan)
Football Distinguished Scholar Athletes (30):
Blake Banham, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.64 GPA, Criminology and Criminal Justice (St. Paul, Minn.)
*Brody Hoying, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.69 GPA, Supply Chain Management (Coldwater, Ohio)
Steve Nielsen, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.67 GPA, Sport Management (Dragoer, Denmark)
Mike Van Hoeven, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.95 GPA, Exercise Science (Paw Paw, Mich.)
*2017 Distinguished Scholar-Athlete
#2016 Distinguished Scholar-Athlete
^2015 Distinguished Scholar-Athlete
Players Mentioned
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/ Football
/ Women's XC
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/ Football
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/ Soccer
/ Women's XC
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/ Football
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/ Volleyball
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/ Volleyball
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/ Football
/ Men's XC
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