BOSTON — Five of America East’s top student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence both athletically and academically are the America East 2015-16 Winter Scholar-Athletes as announced Friday morning by the conference office. All five selections were All-Conference selections during the winter, including University at Albany's Peter Hooley (men's basketball), University of Maine's Sigi Koizar (women's basketball) and Jesse Orach (men's indoor track & field), Stony Brook University's Christina Melian (women's indoor track & field) and UMBC's Coco Darelius (women's swimming & diving).
2015-16 Winter America East Scholar-Athletes
Peter Hooley, Albany, Sr. - Men's Basketball
- Graduated with a 3.56 GPA in psychology and journalism in 2015.
- Has a 3.60 GPA pursuing a masters of communications.
- Second men's basketball Scholar-Athlete honor (2013-14).
- Three-time America East All-Academic and CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.
- Third-team All-Conference selection this season.
Sigi Koizar, Maine , Jr. - Women's Basketball
- Has a 3.96 GPA with a double major of chemistry and pre-med.
- Selected to the women's basketball All-Academic team.
- First-team All-Conference and All-Championship team selection.
- Led Maine to a share of women's basketball regular-season title.
Jesse Orach, Maine, Jr. - Men’s Indoor Track Field
- Has a 3.95 GPA majoring in chemical engineering and is also pursuing a five-year MBA.
- This is his second Scholar-Athlete honor of the year as he also earned the honor in cross country.
- America East All-Academic selection in both indoor track & field and cross country.
- Placed third in the 5,000 meters at IC4As and fifth at the America East Championship.
Christina Melian, Stony Brook, Jr. - Women's Indoor Track & Field
- Has a 3.90 GPA as a double major in biology and health sciences.
- Third career Scholar-Athlete honor (2014 cross country, 2014-15 indoor track & field).
- Two-time America East All-Academic honoree this year.
- Was the 3,000-meter champion at the America East Championship.
- Competed in the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship in the 5,000 meters.
Coco Darelius, UMBC, Sr. - Women's Swimming & Diving
- Has a 3.54 GPA in biology.
- Earned America East All-Academic honors for the second time.
- Named Most Outstanding Diver at the America East Swimming & Diving Championship for the second time after winning the 3-meter competition.
- Competed at NCAA Zone Championships.
The Scholar-Athletes were members of teams in the five championship sports which America East sponsored in the winter season including, men’s and women’s basketball, women's swimming & diving and men’s and women’s track & field. Member institutions of the America East Conference for the 2015-16 fall season included Albany, Binghamton University, University of Hartford, Maine, UMBC, UMass Lowell, University of New Hampshire, Stony Brook and University of Vermont.
Nominees were put forward by their institution, which could nominate one student-athlete per sport. Then, the conference's Student-Athlete Engagement committee chose an honoree in each of the five winter 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 the 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.