BOSTON — Seven of America East’s top student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence both athletically and academically are the America East 2015 Spring Scholar-Athletes as announced Thursday afternoon by the conference office. Six all-conference standouts comprise the group that includes University of Hartford's David MacKinnon (baseball) and Brian Monks (men's lacrosse), University of New Hampshire's Laura Puccia (women's lacrosse) and Anne Twombly (women's outdoor track & field), University of Vermont's Martin Kallur (men's outdoor track & field), Stony Brook University's Allison Cukrov (softball) and Binghamton University's Katya Medianik (women's tennis).
2015 America East Spring Scholar-Athletes
David MacKinnon, Hartford, So. - Baseball
- Two-sport athlete has a 3.93 GPA in accounting.
- Second-team All-America East first baseman after earning second-team all-conference honors in men's soccer in the fall.
- Earned America East All-Academic for the second time this year.
- Four-time Commissioner's Honor Roll member.
Brian Monks, Hartford, Sr. - Men's Lacrosse
- Graduated with a 3.85 GPA earning a degree in economics and finance and has a 3.75 mark as an MBA student.
- First-team all-conference defender.
- Earned America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete Distinction for graduating with a 3.75 GPA.
- America East All-Academic honoree.
Laura Puccia, New Hampshire Sr. - Women's Lacrosse
- Graduated with a 3.77 GPA as a neuroscience major.
- Earned America East All-Academic honors for the third time.
- Garnered America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete Distinction for graduating with a 3.75 GPA.
- Ranked 3rd on New Hampshire scoring 26 goals and 10th in America East in goals per game (1.86 gpg).
Anne Twombly, New Hampshire, Sr. - Women's Outdoor Track & Field
- Graduated with a 3.77 GPA as a fine arts major.
- Was the America East Elite 18 Award honoree for outdoor track & field.
- Garnered America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete Distinction for graduating with a 3.75 GPA.
- Won the 5,000 and 8-00-meter runs at the America East Outdoor Championship.
Martin Kallur, Vermont, Jr. - Men's Outdoor Track & Field
- Maintains a perfect 4.00 GPA as a double major in political science and Italian studies.
- Second selection this year after also earning Scholar-Athlete recognition for indoor track & Field.
- Earned second-team Capital One Academic All-America honors.
- Won the pole vault competition at the America East Championship.
Allison Cukrov, Stony Brook, Sr. - Softball
- The repeat selection graduated with a 3.89 GPA in sustainable studies.
- Earned Eliite 18 honors in softball.
- Garnered America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete Distinction for graduating with a 3.75 GPA.
- Earned first-team All-America East honors as a pitcher in 2015.
Katya Medianik, Sr., Binghamton - Women's Tennis
- Graduated with a 3.66 GPA in philosophy, politics and law.
- Earned second All-Academic honors in 2015.
- Three-time Commissioner's Honor Roll recipient.
- Was a first-team all-conference honoree in singles.
The Scholar-Athletes were members of teams in the seven championship sports which America East sponsored in the winter season including baseball, men’s and women’s lacrosse, softball, men's and women's outdoor track & field and women's tennis. Member institutions of the America East Conference for the 2015 spring season included Albany, Binghamton University, University of Hartford, Maine, UMBC, UMass Lowell, University of New Hampshire, Stony Brook, University of Vermont and NJIT as an associate member for women's tennis. Nominees were put forward by their institution, which could nominate up to one student-athlete per sport. Then, a committee of athletic administrators and NCAA Faculty Athletics Representatives chose an honoree in each of the six fall championship sports. Each America East Scholar-Athlete was a starter or prominent reserve and carries a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.50. They will automatically be eligible for the America East Female or Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year award to be announced this summer. America East is proud to have one of most comprehensive academic awards programs in the country. In addition to the Scholar-Athlete program, Presidential Scholar-Athlete awards are bestowed to student-athletes who graduate with a 3.75 GPA. The Elite 18 program recognizes elite students while All-Academic teams comprised of student-athletes that excel both academically and athletically are chosen in each of the conference’s 18 sports. The conference also recognizes all student-athletes who achieve at least a 3.0 GPA on its Academic Honor Roll, with those achieving a 3.50 average or better receiving Commissioner’s Honor Roll status. Finally, the Academic Cup is presented to the institution whose student-athletes post the highest grade-point average during that academic year.
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.