Central Michigan University Athletics
Chippewas Celebrate Academic Successes
1/26/2018 12:00:00 AM | General
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippewas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan Athletics took a break from competition on Thursday to celebrate the academic achievements of its student-athletes.
More than 150 Chippewas covering the university's 18 varsity sports were honored during the 26th Annual Ferrantino Foundation Academic Excellence Banquet at McGuirk Arena inside the Kulhavi Events Center.
The event was attended by an estimated 320 CMU student-athletes and their family members along with university administrators, faculty, staff and board members all there to celebrate the wide-ranging academic successes of CMU student-athletes who carry a grade point average of 3.5 or better.
"To the 152 student-athletes that we honor, know that you are leaders," said CMU Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Michael Alford. "You show what's possible. All of you earned a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. That shows, planning, commitment and a willingness to bring your best every day. Those leadership qualities will serve you the rest of your life.
"I'm proud of each of you, and I thank you. You provide the stories that I tell across campus, to donors, to fans, to administrators and to the CMU Board of Trustees."
Alford, who took the reins of CMU Athletics in July, noted that Chippewa student-athletes have earned a cumulative semester grade point average of 3.0 or higher for 38 consecutive semesters, that student-athletes cover 65 different majors, and that 18 student-athletes earned a perfect 4.0 GPA during the fall semester.
"People are intrigued when they hear that CMU student-athletes' cumulative grade point average stands at 3.2," Alford said. "They know you make sacrifices in time to be the best in your sport. And they understand how taxing a full university load can be. They, too, are proud of you."
The award winners:
Pat Podoll Outstanding Academic Achievement: McKenzie Wieber, women's track and field; John McCarty, men's basketball.
Team Top Scholar Athlete: Ty Rollin, baseball; McCarty, men's basketball; Logan Slaughter, football; Logan Targgart, men's track and field; Newton Smerchek, wrestling; Jaeda Robinson, women's basketball; Leah Umberger, field hockey; Natalie Johnson, golf; Bryttany Kaplan, gymnastics; Wieber, women's track and field; Sydney Wright, lacrosse; Savannah Beetcher, soccer; Laura Vaccaro, softball; Allison Knoll, volleyball.
Bill Boyden Award nominees: Romello Ross, football; Shawn Roundtree Jr., men's basketball; Reyna Frost, women's basketball; Michael Brettell, baseball; Katherine Sharp, lacrosse; Gianna Plaksa, gymnastics; Kady Gurtis, field hockey; Kayla Noch, softball; Kevin Weiler, men's track and field/cross country; Samantha Cuneo, women's track and field/cross country; Bria Colosky, golf.
Dick Enberg Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominees: Colosky, golf; Presley Hudson, women's basketball; Luke Anderson, men's cross country; Megan O'Neil, women's cross country; Targgart, men's track and field; Cuneo, women's track and field; Jocelyne Lemay, lacrosse; Rachel Vieira, softball; Plaksa, gymnastics; Emily Wenglikowski, volleyball; Umberger, field hockey; Mason Smith, wrestling; Michael Danna, football.
Dick Enberg Team Leadership Award: Softball.
Outstanding Team Grade Point Average: Golf and men's cross country.
Academic Achievement Award: Ja'Corey Lipsey, men's track and field.
Players Mentioned
