Five Elite Student-Athletes Named Winter Scholar-Athletes

Five Elite Student-Athletes Named Winter Scholar-Athletes

BOSTON — Five of America East’s top student-athletes who have demonstrated excellence both athletically and academically are the America East 2014-15 Winter Scholar-Athletes as announced Wednesday afternoon by the conference office. Five all-conference standouts comprise the group, including University at Albany's Sam Rowley (men's basketball), University of Maine's Liz Wood (women's basketball), University of Vermont's Martin Kallur (men's indoor track & field), Stony Brook University's Christina Melian (women's indoor track & field) and University of New Hampshire's Katie Mann (women's swimming & diving).

2014-15 America East Winter Scholar-Athletes
Sam Rowley, Albany, Sr. - Men's Basketball

  • Has a 3.60 GPA as a double major in business administration and mathematics.
  • First-team All-America East selection and All-Championship team choice.
  • Second-team NABC All-District selection.
  • Captained Albany to its first America East regular-season crown since 2006 and its third-straight conference title.
  • Became just the fourth America East men's basketball student-athlete to earn All-Academic recognition for the third straight year.
  • Made Dean’s List all seven semesters.

Liz Wood, Maine, Jr. - Women's Basketball

  • Has a 3.93 GPA as a biology major with a pre-med concentration.
  • Second Scholar-Athlete honor (2014).
  • First-team all-conference selection.
  • Co-Defensive Player of the Year and All-Defensive team selection.
  • America East All-Academic honoree.
  • Named Maine's "M" Club Dean Smith Award winner - presented annually to the top male and female student-athlete with outstanding academic and athletic achievement along with citizenship and community service.

Martin Kallur, Vermont, Jr. - Men's Indoor Track & Field

  • Maintains a perfect 4.00 GPA as a double major in political science and Italian studies.
  • Compiled the most points at the 2015 America East Indoor Track & Field Championship to earn the Coaches' Award.
  • Won the long jump competition.
  • Placed second in the 60-meter hurdles and fourth in the pole vault.
  • Named America East's men's indoor track & field Elite 18 Award winner.
  • America East All-Academic selection.

Christina Melian, Stony Brook, So. - Women's Indoor Track & Field

  • Has a 3.90 GPA in health science with a pre-med track.
  • Second Scholar-Athlete honor (2014 Fall Cross Country selection).
  • Earned All-America status in 5,000 meters with 13th-place finish at NCAA Championships.
  • Won the 3,000-meter run at the America East indoor championship.
  • Placed second at the America East Championship to earn all-conference honors.
  • Named an America East All-Academic selection for the second time this year.

 

Katie Mann, Sr., New Hampshire - Women's Swimming & Diving
  • Has a 3.89 GPA in English.
  • Second Scholar-Athlete honor (2013).
  • Won four gold medals at the America East Championship. 
  • Captured the 400 individual medley and the 200-meter butterfly events.
  • Was part of the Wildcats' winning 400- and 800-yard relay squads.
  • Qualified for the NCAA Championships for the third straight year.
  • Named the women's swimming & diving Elite 89 winner.
  • America East All-Academic selection.
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 2015 winter 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 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.