FROM STAFF REPORTS

The University of Montevallo saw 24 student-athletes honored recently by the NCAA Division II Athletics Directors Association for their academic achievements.

The student-athletes were honored with the 2010-2011 DII ADA Academic Achievement Awards.

The following student-athletes were given the distinguished honor: Josh Headley (baseball), Taylor Welch (women’s basketball), Ginny Davis (women’s cross country), Katherine Schofield (women’s cross country), Aaron Ebert (men’s golf), Gonzalo Gambertoglio (men’s golf), Mariano Lepori (men’s golf), Ruwaldt Viljoen (men’s golf), Vance Curro (men’s soccer, David Esser (men’s soccer), Andrew Nichols (men’s soccer), Milan Pualic (men’s soccer), Michael Riggle (men’s soccer), James Steer (men’s soccer), Paige Scott (women’s soccer), Alex Terhar (women’s soccer), Kodi Bobo (women’s tennis), Helene Nordgreen (women’s tennis), Calli Robinson (women’s tennis), Yulia Shvetsova (women’s tennis), Virginia Clay (volleyball), Anna Garrison (volleyball), Jessica Guidry (volleyball) and Betsy Stevenson (volleyball).

Curro is a Spain Park High School graduate. Esser is an Oak Mountain High School graduate.

Ninety-eight institutions sent in nominees for the 2010-2011 Academic Achievement Awards, while a total of 3,676 student-athletes are being recognized this year. The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) had 434 student-athletes honored, a record-high for the program, followed by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) with 381 nominees. The NSIC previously held the record for most student-athletes honored with 391 in 2008-2009.

The Peach Belt Conference had honorees from five institutions, including Montevallo. USC-Aiken led the way with 47 honorees, while the Falcons finished second in the conference with 24.

In order for a student-athlete to receive an Academic Achievement Award, the athletics director of the Division II institution must be a current dues paying member of the DII ADA.

Also, the student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, have attended a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college level work and have been an active member of an intercollegiate team during his/her last academic year.