CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The America East Conference presented its inaugural Elite 18 Awards at the conclusion of its six fall championships, honoring student-athletes who exemplify excellence both in their sport and in the classroom.
The Elite 18 Award Program was established by the conference in June 2013 for implementation in the 2014-15 academic year to honor the highest achievement in academics and athletics by a student-athlete in each America East sponsored sport.
Three of the fall honorees won America East championships with a pair advancing deep into their respective NCAA tournaments. UMBC’s Billy Heavner, a junior goalkeeper with a perfect 4.00 GPA while majoring in financial economics, won the men’s soccer honoree. Heavner’s Retrievers have reached the third round of the NCAA tournament via shutouts of Wake Forest and Maryland. Albany’s Taylor Schwoyer, a sophomore with a 3.97 GPA while majoring in biology, was the field hockey recipient. Her Great Danes advanced to the Final Four, also knocking off Wake Forest and Maryland, before falling to eventual national champion Connecticut, 1-0, in the national semifinals.
New Hampshire’s Anne Twombly earned the award after being a key contributor to the Wildcats’ America East champion cross country squad. The senior, who finished fifth in the race to earn all-conference honors, is a studio art major, and maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA.
Stony Brook’s Eric Speakman earned the men’s cross country honor after being crowned the individual America East champion. He is majoring business management & economics and currently holds a 3.89 GPA.
Hartford’s Katie Connolly, a sophomore with a perfect 4.00 GPA while majoring in arts and science, took home the women’s soccer Elite 18 honor while Albany’s Mikala McCauley, a sophomore with a 3.94 GPA in psychology was the volleyball recipient.
Modeled after the NCAA Elite 89 Academic Recognition Award Program, the America East Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average competing at the finals site at each of the America East’s 18 team championships.
America East is proud to have one of most comprehensive academic awards programs in the country. In addition to the Elite 18 program, All-Academic teams comprised of student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically are chosen in each of the conference’s 18 sports. Additionally, a Scholar-Athlete, someone who distinguishes himself/herself as the top student-athlete in his/her sport, is awarded. From that group, one male and one female is selected the America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year. 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. The Presidential Scholar-Athlete award recognizes graduating student-athletes who compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher as an undergraduate student. Finally, the Academic Cup is presented to the institution whose student-athletes post the highest grade-point average during that academic year.
Fall Elite 18 Award Recipients
Katie Connolly, Hartford (Women’s Soccer)
Billy Heavner, UMBC (Men’s Soccer)
Mikala McCauley, Albany (Volleyball)
Taylor Schwoyer, Albany (Field Hockey)
Eric Speakman, Stony Brook (Men’s Cross Country)
Anne Twombly, New Hampshire (Women’s Cross Country)