Scholar-Athlete Numbers Continue To Grow
A record number of 156 student-athletes were honored at the Scholar-Athlete reception.
A record number of 156 student-athletes were recognized for academic success and excellence at the 2007 Arm & Pat Hanzad Scholar-Athlete Celebration, held in the Barrett Ballroom on Thursday, November 1.
Student-athletes who earned a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale for the 2006-07 academic year were eligible for recognition from the University’s Division of Intercollegiate Athletics.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE BY THE NUMBERS
Of the 156 Scholar-Athletes, 88, or 22% of all Spartan student-athletes, also received academic all-conference honors from the Western Athletic Conference or the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. These Scholar-Athletes maintained a 3.00 or better cumulative grade-point average and participated in at least 50 percent of their teams' contests during the academic year. This number realizes a three-percent gain over the previous year.
The percentage increase of Scholar-Athletes in the student-athlete population year-over-year was 53 percent. The percentage of student-athletes in the student-athlete population who achieved a 3.00 or better grade-point average increased to 40 percent compared to 34 percent in the 2004-05 academic year.
"Our goal is for every student-athlete to graduate and become a good citizen and alum of San Jose State," San Jose State University director of athletics Tom Bowen said to those in attendance. "That goal has not changed since my arrival and it will not change. Academics remain our first priority as we solidify our Culture of Champions."
STANDOUT STUDENT-ATHLETES & TOP TEAMS
Bridget McKee and Alexis Higlett, water polo; Marlene Elizalde, cross country; Kanika Minocha, golf and Kelli Fournier, gymnastics, were cited as the five female student-athletes with the highest grade-point average. Baseball players Greg Fyfe, Josh Amberson and Karson Klauer; Hiroki Akiyama, soccer, and Sam Wambugu from cross country registered the top five grade-point averages among the men’s sports teams.
The women’s cross country team received the Order of Sparta Team GPA Award for the highest combined team grade-point average for the fall and spring semesters. The women’s tennis, women’s gymnastics, water polo and women’s swimming and diving teams received honorable mention recognition for team grade-point averages above 3.00 for one or both semesters.