CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Forty-eight America East student-athletes have been named to the conference’s inaugural Presidential Scholar-Athlete class for their outstanding academic achievements throughout their collegiate careers. Approved by the America East Board of Presidents last June and implemented for 2013-14 academic year, the Presidential Scholar-Athlete award recognizes graduating student-athletes who compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher as an undergraduate student.
“Congratulations to these outstanding student-athletes for graduating with such high honors,” said America East Commissioner Amy Huchthausen. “Our goal with this award was to properly recognize this impressive cumulative achievement attained by so many of our student-athletes. The recipients are prime examples of the academic excellence ongoing in this conference.”
In addition to registering a 3.75 GPA for their college career, honored student-athletes must have received their undergraduate degree in the academic year they are honored and have attended their institution for a minimum of two years.
Student-athletes competing in 17 of America East’s 19 sponsored sports were recognized, including the conference’s Woman of the Year, Olivia Burne, and Man of the Year, Kelton Cullenberg. University of Hartford led the way with 11 student-athletes honored, followed by University of Maine with eight, Binghamton University, UMBC and University of New Hampshire each with six, University at Albany with four, Stony Brook University with three and UMass Lowell and University of Vermont each with two.
2013-14 America East Presidential Scholar-Athletes
School Name Major GPA Sport
Albany Kathryn Fanning Biology 3.98 Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field
Jillian Haynes Human Biology 3.78 Women’s Track & Field
Christoffer Nisser Business Administration 3.86 Men’s Soccer
David Wiegmann Human Biology 3.98 Men’s Basketball
Binghamton Benjamin Nicholson Philosophy & English 4.00 Men’s Soccer
Florian van Kann Management (Marketing) 3.96 Men’s Tennis
Kathleen Klein Studio Art 3.88 Women’s Track & Field
Conor O’Brien Cell & Molecular Biology 3.88 Women’s Soccer
Mikala King Human Development 3.81 Softball
Emma Kurth English & Spanish 3.80 W. Soccer
Hartford Zuzana Kudernatschova Health Science/PT 3.98 Softball
Jordan Badenko Insurance & Finance 3.97 Men’s Tennis
Taylor McCreery Marketing 3.96 Volleyball
John Busque Health Science/PT 3.93 Men’s Track & Field
Megan Barry Biology 3.92 W. Cross Country
Adam Oresky Accounting 3.88 Men’s Basketball
Brian Monks Economics & Finance 3.87 Men’s Lacrosse
Amber Andrews Early Childhood Education3.85 Softball
Erik Quitzau Mechanical Engineering 3.81 Men’s Track & Field
Alexander Holdstein Management 3.79 Men’s Tennis
Tate Klidonas Health Science/PT 3.76 M. Lacrosse
Maine Lisa Bijman Exercise Science 3.91 W. Soccer
Monique Boutin Art History & Studio Art 3.88 Women’s Track & Field
Meaghan Bradica Exercise Science 3.98 Women’s Soccer
Kelton Cullenberg Exercise Science 3.92 Men’s Track & Field
Ashten Hackett Exercise Science 3.77 Women’s Track & Field
Darien Lewis Exercise Science 3.78 Women’s Track & Field
Hallie Lipinski Animal & Vet. Sciences 3.77 Women’s Soccer
Rachel Wilkinson Food Science
& Human Nutrition 3.99 Women’s Track & Field
UMBC Kim Berghaus Physics 3.84 Women’s Tennis
Patricia Hallberg Psychology 3.86 Women’s Swim/Dive
Robbin Lee Media Communications
Studies & Visual Arts 3.89 Volleyball
Corbin McCarron Psychology & Sociology 3.88 Men’s Soccer
Kristen McGovern Environmental Sciences 3.96 W. Cross Country
Luke Seppi Mathematics 3.90 Baseball
UMass Lowell Benjamin Pare Biology 3.96 Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field
Christopher Favulli Exercise Physiology 3.93 Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field
UNH Scott Morris Administration & Finance 3.78 Men’s Basketball
Byron Greenwood Mathematics 3.75 Men’s Soccer
Jamie DePetris Accounting & Finance 3.93 Women’s Lacrosse
Erica Correa Accounting & Finance 3.87 Women’s Soccer
Caroline Bonsaint Studio Art 3.75 Women’s Track & Field
Allison Brehm Zoology 3.77 Women’s Track & Field
Stony Brook Sean Hardick Mechanical Engineering 3.82 Men’s Swimming & Diving
Olivia Burne Journalism 3.84 Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field
Samuel Kimmey Biochemistry 3.88 Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field
Vermont Terese Cioffredi English/Anthropology 3.88 Women’s Track & Field
Kirsten Weberg Animal Science 3.93 Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field
America East is proud to have one of most comprehensive academic awards programs in the country. In addition to the Presidential Scholar-Athlete award, All-Academic team comprised of student-athletes that excel both academically and athletically are chosen in each of the conference’s 19 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. 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.