UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Nearly 70 Penn State student-athletes have received Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Awards for the 2014-15 academic year. The total of 69 is the school’s second-highest and just shy of last year’s record total.
Eight of the 69 Nittany Lion student-athletes posted perfect 4.0 grade point averages this past year: Kevin Montminy, men’s basketball; Kathleen Rodden, women’s cross-country/track and field; Shane Stewart, men’s golf; Ellen Ceresko, women’s golf; Dani Lazo, women’s lacrosse; Abby Smucker, women’s lacrosse; Megan Siverling, women’s swimming and diving; and Melissa Minnitti, women’s tennis.
Also among Penn State’s Distinguished Scholars were members of Penn State’s NCAA Champion women’s volleyball team -- Carley Muller and Kendall Pierce -- as well as the CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year and NCAA Wrestling National Champion, Matt Brown. CoSIDA Academic All-Americans Laura Gebhart (field hockey) and Robby Creese (men’s cross-country/track and field) also earned Distinguished Scholars recognition.
The women’s swimming and diving team topped the Penn State list, with eight student-athletes honorees. The women’s lacrosse squad had seven Big Ten Distinguished Scholars and the field hockey team had six.
Penn State’s three highest Distinguished Scholar totals have come in the last three years:
2014-15: 69
2013-14: 73
2012-13: 68
The Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award is presented to student-athletes who have recorded a minimum GPA of 3.7 or higher during the previous academic year.
For the complete list of honorees, go to http://www.gopsusports.com/genrel/072215aaa.html.