Eastern Michigan Athletics

MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes

MAC Names 14 Eagles Distinguished Scholar Athletes

5/8/2019 11:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field, Gymnastics, General

The 14 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 Wednesday, May 8, its list of Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the eight winter sports for the 2018-19 academic season. Out of 109 student-athletes on the list, 14 Eagles were recognized as the 'best of the best' from each sport's Academic All-MAC teams.

Men's track and field led the way for EMU with six honorees, while women's swimming and diving finished with four student-athletes represented. Women's track and field added three and gymnastics rounded out the representatives with one. Out of EMU's 14 MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes, eight boasted a GPA of 3.75 or better, including two perfect 4.0's.

From the Academic All-MAC Teams, the faculty athletic representatives selected the 'best of the best' of the Academic All-MAC Teams to be honored with Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Award for the 2018-19 season. The Distinguished Scholar Athlete must have a 3.50 GPA or higher and the number of Distinguished Scholar Athletes from each sport were equivalent to the number of first-team selections or 20% of nominees, whichever was greater.

The Distinguished Scholar Athlete is an award in its fifth 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 are not eligible for the award.

Later this spring, the MAC will announce the Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the remaining nine spring sports sponsored by the Conference.

2018-19 EMU MAC Distinguished Student-Athletes

Men's Indoor Track & Field Distinguished Scholar Athletes:
Sean Beckom II, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.53 GPA, Psychology and Communications (Saginaw, MI)
Owen Day, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.65 GPA, Simulation/Animation & Gaming (Ottawa, Ontario)
Hayelom Fitsum, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.71 GPA, Engineering (Denver, Colo.)
Derek Jones, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.86 GPA, Business (Erie, Pa.)
Owen Richardson, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.56 GPA, Exercise Science (Basingstoke, England)
Austin Wicker, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 4.00 GPA, Nursing (Pinckney, Mich.)

Women's Indoor Track & Field Distinguished Scholar Athletes:
Kadian Clarke, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.91 GPA, Actuarial Science (Kingston, Jamaica)
*^Sydney Meyers, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.90 GPA, Marketing (Zionsville, Ind.) 
Gianna Salzbrunn, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.95 GPA, Sport Management (North Aurora, Ill.)

Women's Swimming & Diving Distinguished Scholar Athletes:
*^Delaney Duncan, Eastern Michigan, Senior., 3.71 GPA, Marketing (Galesburg, Ill.)
*Casey Gavigan, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.82 GPA, Exercise Science- Int (East Setauket, N.Y.)
Gabrielle Mace, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.93 GPA, Anthropology (Clinton, Mich.)
Sophia Tsafantakis, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.69 GPA, Therapeutic Recreation (Washington, Mich.)

Gymnastics Distinguished Scholar Athletes:
Cortney Bezold, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 4.00 GPA, Nursing- Intent (Maineville, Ohio)
 
* 2017-18 Distinguished Scholar-Athlete
^ 2016-17 Distinguished Scholar Athlete
~ 2015-16 Distinguished Scholar-Athlete

Players Mentioned

Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
AA
/ Gymnastics
Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Men's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Eastern in 60 Seconds Part 6,
Tuesday, September 30
Season 8 - Episode 6: EMU Grit, Alumni Achievement, and Fall Sports Momentum
Monday, September 29
EMU Football Pregame Press Conference: Week 6 vs. Buffalo
Monday, September 29
2025 Football Week 5 Hype vs. Central Michigan
Saturday, September 27