Cleveland, Ohio -- The 26 winners of the eighth annual Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association Scholar-Athlete Teams were announced today by the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (DI-AAA ADA).

“On behalf of the Division I-AAA ADA, I want to extend my congratulations to the student-athletes for their outstanding academic and athletics achievements,” stated Tim Hall, chair of the Division I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete Team Selection Committee and athletics director at University of Missouri Kansas City. “They model the phrase student-athlete at the highest level. We share the joy of acknowledging their momentous accomplishments.”

Basketball players from all Division I-AAA ADA member institutions are eligible for these prestigious awards. Each of the nominees was required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletics credentials. He/she must have reached junior athletics and academic standing at the nominated institution (true freshmen, red-shirt freshmen and ineligible athletics transfers are not eligible) and have completed at least three academic semesters/five quarters at the nominated institution. Nominated student-athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games listed on the nomination form.

Additionally, from the Scholar-Athlete teams, one male and female student-athlete was selected as the Division I-AAA Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Receiving the women’s honor was Miranda Ayim, a wellness public relations major from Pepperdine, with a 3.71 GPA; while the men’s award went to Matt Howard, a finance major from Butler, with a 3.77 GPA.

A special Review Committee of Division I-AAA athletics directors were responsible for selecting the winners. Completing this task were Committee Chair Tim Hall; Pete Carlon, Texas Arlington; Don DiJulia, St. Joseph’s; Gene Doris, Fairfield; Bill Husak, Loyola Marymount; Jean Lenti Ponsetto, DePaul; Kelly Mehrtens, North Carolina Wilmington; Dave Mullins, East Tennessee State; and John Planek, Loyola (Ill.).

 Men’s Scholar-Athlete Team

Name, Institution, GPA, Major
Benjamin Botts, IPFW, 3.75, Business Management
Graham Hatch, Wichita State, 3.73, Chemistry
Matt Howard *, Butler, 3.77, Finance
Sam Maniscalco, Bradley, 3.38, Sports Communication
Yves Mekongo, LaSalle, 3.81, Integrated. Science, Business & Technology
Tyler Morris, Boston University, 3.30, Business Administration/Management
Nick Schneiders, USC Upstate, 3.71, Graphic Design
Robin Smeulders, Portland, 3.39, Marketing/Management
Adam Templeton, Drake, 3.30, Marketing/Management
Steve Weingarten, LaSalle, 3.88, History

Honorable Mention: 

Evan Fjeld, Vermont ; and Devin Gibson, Texas at San Antonio                         

* Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Women’s Scholar-Athlete Team

Name, Institution, GPA, Major
Miranda Ayim *, Pepperdine, 3.71, Public Relations
Felicia Chester, DePaul, 3.79, Sociology
Kristin Daugherty, Dayton, 3.79, Public Relations
Celeste Hoewisch, Wisconsin Green Bay, 3.30, Human Biology
Melissa Jeltema, Oakland, 3.59, Wellness, Health & Promotion of Injury Prevention
Michelle Kirk, American, 3.73, Communication Studies
Morgan Robertson, LaSalle, 3.89, Political Science/Psychology
Sam Schuett, Creighton, 3.77, Accounting
Kayla Tetschlag, Wisconsin Green Bay, 3.78, Business Administration
Jenny VanKirk, Bradley, 4.0, Pre-med

Honorable Mention: 
Amanda Kemezys, St. Louis; Kailey Klein, Cleveland State; Dana Mitchell, St. Bonaventure; and Brigid Mulroy, Detroit Mercy.                                                                           

* Scholar-Athlete of the Year