Student-Athletes Honored for Academic Achievements

Continuing the tradition of academic excellence among student-athletes, 68 members of St. John’s University’s varsity teams were honored as members of the BIG EAST All-Academic Team at a center court ceremony during the February 6 men’s basketball game at Madison Square Garden.

In all, 181 student-athletes achieved All-Academic status for 2011–2012, including 16 student-athletes from the men’s and women’s fencing teams, which do not participate in the BIG EAST conference. The Red Storm men’s lacrosse and baseball teams also earned BIG EAST Team Academic Excellence Awards, with the highest GPAs in the conference for their respective sports.

“We are very proud of our student-athletes for achieving this honor,” said Eric Rienecker, Director, Academic Support Services. “They invest a tremendous amount of time both in the classroom, in the community, and on the field of competition.”

To qualify for the All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must have competed in a BIG EAST-sponsored sport, earned a varsity letter, attained a minimum 3.0 GPA, and completed a minimum of two consecutive semesters of academic work. The number of St. John’s student-athletes meeting the All-Academic Team criteria has risen each year since 2006.

Greeting the student-athletes on court were Rienecker, Chris Monasch, Director of Athletics, Larry Boone, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Management in The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, and Nancy Kaplan, Ph.D., Associate Vice President, Academic Support Services.

“These students epitomize the true meaning of the term, ‘student-athlete,’” said Rienecker. “The recognition is a clear reflection of their dedication to being the best of the best.”