Varsity Sports: Academic Honor Roll Banquet
April 16, 2009 12:52 PM | General
April 16, 2009
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| Ed Pastilong |
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Four-hundred forty-five West Virginia University student-athletes were recognized for their achievement in the classroom Wednesday evening at the annual Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll Banquet.
Implemented in 1989 by WVU Director of Athletics Ed Pastilong, the Athletic Director’s Academic Honor Roll was created to recognize students who have achieved a GPA average of 3.0 or better. Since the program began in 1989, more than 3,500 student-athletes have earned a place on the honor roll.
“The key to our academic success is the people who work in our Academic Support Services program,” says Garrett Ford, Associate Athletic Director for Student Services. “I cannot say enough good things about Sandy Cole-DeMent, Paul Downey, Ehren Green, Mark Hanselman, Donnie Tucker and Erica Wycherley. The time, care and dedication they display toward our student-athletes is tremendous. The Academic Support Services staff is truly a team.”
Student-athletes from all 17 sports teams, in addition to cheerleading and athletic training, gathered at Waterfront Place Hotel for dinner and acknowledgment of their academic achievements. Seniors Dan Stratford of men’s soccer and Lisa Hough of volleyball gave touching speeches highlighting their Mountaineer experiences.
“The impact of the Reynolds Family Academic Performance Center at the stadium and the Coliseum Academic Performance Center cannot be overstated,” says Paul Downey, Educational Counselor for Student-Athletes. “We have seen an increase in the number of upperclassmen utilizing the centers because of the increased space and availability of computers, tutors and mentors This, coupled with the hard work of the student-athletes, has led to an increase in the overall student-athlete grade point average to 3.12 during the most recent semester.”
New this year was the recognition of the men’s and women’s teams with the highest grade point average each semester. Men’s soccer claimed the first men’s award for the spring and fall 2008 semesters. Women’s cross country had the highest women’s grade point average, as well as overall GPA, for both semesters.
