August 17, 2012

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – This week, as a new academic year opens, 31 Coker College athletes, representing 11 sports, were recognized with the 2011-12 D2ADA Academic Achievement Awards.

Presented annually by the Division II Athletic Directors Association, the awards recognize academic accomplishments of student-athletes in Division II.

“Coker’s student-athletes continue to defy expectations,” said vice president of athletics and facilities Lynn Griffin.  “These students exemplify competitors any program would covet.  Their dedication to their sport and to their school reflects well on their coaches, their professors and their student-colleagues.”

In order to qualify for the award, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, have completed a minimum of two years of college-level work, and been an active member of an intercollegiate team during the past academic year.

A record number of institutions (118) and student-athletes (4,492) were recognized by the D2ADA for the 2011-12 academic year. Fellow Conference Carolinas members Barton, King, Limestone, Mount Olive and Pfeiffer also had student-athletes recognized.

The following Coker student-athletes earned the D2ADA Academic Achievement Award:

Men’s basketball

• Jonathon Gardner
• Andrew Morris

Baseball

• Lucas Britt
• Brendan Burns
• Zachary Durham
• Kyle Gallman
• Taylor Martin
• Anthony Nolan
• Timothy Sinnott

Men’s golf

• Joshua Clay
• Matthew Kreider
• Diego Polo

Men’s lacrosse

• Steven Marciano

Men’s soccer

• Atticus Lum
• Brendan McCarron
• Stephen Scrivens
• Tyler Staub
• James Sweeney

Men’s cross country

• Thaddeus Sulek

Softball

• Lauren Brailsford
• Stacy Burr
• Becky Dillon

Softball/Women’s volleyball

• Katie McElveen

Women’s soccer

• Morgan Hartline
• Sarah Kinsey
• Melanie McGrath

Women’s tennis

• Kimberly Surette

Women’s volleyball

• Mindy Morris

Women’s cross country

• Robyn Risher
• Devan Williams

For more information, contact Chris Dougherty, manager of athletics media relations, at 843-383-8018 or cdougherty@coker.edu.

                                                                              -------------------------------------------------       

Coker College readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom. Coker is ranked among the “Best Colleges” in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Located in Hartsville, S.C., Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.