Six Elite Student-Athletes Named Fall Scholar-Athletes

Six Elite Student-Athletes Named Fall Scholar-Athletes

BOSTON — Six of America East’s top student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence both athletically and academically are the America East 2014 Fall Scholar-Athletes as announced Thursday afternoon by the conference office. University at Albany's Paula Heuser (field hockey), the national Division I Player of the Year, headlines the honorees and is joined by University of Hartford's Emma Donnelly (women's soccer), UMBC's Billy Heavner (UMBC), New Hampshire's Tori Forrest (volleyball) and Stony Brook University's Christiana Melian (women's cross country) and Eric Speakman (men's cross country).

2014 Fall America East Scholar-Athletes
Paula Heuser, Albany, So. - Field Hockey

  • Has a 3.71 GPA in business administration.
  • 2014 NFHCA Division I National Player of the Year who paced the nation in scoring and led Albany to the FInal Four for the first time in program history.
  • Field hockey recipient of prestigious Honda Sports Award, given to female student-athletes in 12 sports and acknowledges athletic achievement as well as scholastics and community involvement.
  • Was the America East Midfielder of the Year and Most Outstanding Player of the conference championship.
  • Was an America East and NFHCA All-Academic selection.
  • Made Dean’s List all three semesters.

Emma Donnelly, Hartford, Sr. - Women's Soccer

  • Has a 3.89 GPA as double major in business and public health.
  • Third-team CoSIDA Academic All-American & NSCAA Scholar All-American.
  • Two-time America East All-Academic choice.
  • Three-time Commissioner's Honor Roll recipient.
  • First-team all-conference defender who led Hartford to the America East regular-season title.

Billy Heavner, UMBC, Jr. - Men's Soccer

  • Recipient of NCAA Elite 89 & America East Elite 18 Awards for excellence in the classroom.
  • Has a 3.96 GPA in financial economics.
  • Member of the America East All-Academic team.
  • Four-time UMBC Presidential List honoree for having perfect 4.00 GPA.
  • The goalkeeper ranked eighth nationally in save percentage and sixth in goals against average
  • Led UMBC to the College Cup for the first  time in program history by recording four-straight shutouts on the road in the first round of the NCAA Championship.

Christina Melian, Stony Brook, So. - Women's Cross Country

  • Has a 3.90 GPA in health science.
  • Unanimous All-Academic selection for 2014 cross country squad.
  • Made Dean's List five semesters.
  • Placed second at the America East Championship to earn all-conference honors.
  • Earned all-region honors with 15th-place finish at

Eric Speakman, Sr., Stony Brook- Men’s Cross Country

  • Has a 3.89 GPA as double major in business management and economics.
  • Third selection as a Scholar-Athlete.
  • Tabbed the 2015 America East Men's Cross Country Elite 18 honoree.
  • Made Dean's List eight times.
  • Won the individual crown at the America East Championship for the second time in three years, becoming the fifth conference athlete to win the title twice. 

Tori Forrest, Jr., New Hampshire - Volleyball

  • Has a 3.75 GPA as a accounting & business management major.
  • Two time America East All-Academic & Commissioner's Honor Roll selection.
  • Made Dean's List twice.
  • Earned first-team all-conference honors for the second-straight season.
  • Led New Hampshire to the 2014 America East title.

The Scholar-Athletes were members of teams in the six championship sports which America East sponsored in the fall season including men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey and volleyball. Member institutions of the America East Conference for the 2014 fall season included Albany, Binghamton University, University of Hartford, Maine, UMBC, UMass Lowell, University of New Hampshire, Stony Brook and University of Vermont. Fairfield University was an associate member in the sport of field hockey.

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.