CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Five America East student-athletes who graduated in December have been named to  Presidential Scholar-Athletes for their outstanding academic achievements throughout their collegiate careers. First bestowed to 2014 graduates in June, 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.”

Among the five honorees are: Albany's Silvia Del Fava and Christoffer Nisser, Maine's Holly Stewart, UMBC's Michael DiCesare and New Hampshire's Joe Jourdain.

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.

2014 Winter America East Presidential Scholar-Athletes

School                      Name                              Major                                    GPA    Sport

Albany                       Silvia Del Fava                  Urban Studies and Planning      3.93    Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field

                                 Christoffer Nisser             Financial Analysis                     3.82    Men's Soccer

Maine                        Holly Stewart                   Kinesiology-Exercise Science    3.99    Field Hockey

UMBC                        Michael DiCesare             Biological Sciences                    3.75    Men's Soccer

New Hampshire         Joe Jourdain                    Computer Science                    3.81    Men's Track & Field