MAAC All-Academic Student Athletes to be Honored at Graduation for the Second Year
MAAC Sports
Edison, N.J. - Student-athletes who have earned MAAC All-Academic Team honors will be recognized with a pin at each MAAC institution's graduation in 2013 as part of a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) initiative that was developed last year. This is the second year the MAAC will honor the student-athletes' performances on the field as well as in the classroom with a pin at graduation.
In order for an individual to be eligible for All-Academic honors, a student-athlete must achieve at least a 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average and must be of at least sophomore academic standing. This year, there will be two color designated pins. White pins will honor student-athletes who have been named to the All-Academic Team once, while gold pins honor student-athletes who have been named to the All-Academic Team two or more times throughout their collegiate careers.
“I am extremely glad that the MAAC decided to continue giving out the all-academic pins. Recognizing student-athletes for their hard work in the classroom on Graduation Day is a great salute by the MAAC,” said Adam Purcilly, the MAAC's National SAAC representative. “As student-athletes, we carry great responsibility in the classroom in addition to on the field, and those who have successfully balanced these two commitments deserve to be honored. In doing so, the MAAC recognizes the vital importance of academics in the student-athlete experience and rewards those who excel in this regard.”
The idea behind honoring the student-athletes came from a MAAC SAAC conference where two representatives from each MAAC institution come together for a weekend to participate in community service initiatives and partake in a meeting to discuss campus programs and improvements for their respective campus SAACs. Members of MAAC SAAC wanted a way to distinguish their accomplishments throughout their time at college as a student-athlete. A pin to honor the student-athletes was approved by the Council of Presidents last year.
“The opportunity to recognize the MAAC’s All-Academic honorees at the time of their graduation is important to the league’s student-athletes as it reflects the conference’s commitment to excellence in athletics and academics,” noted Richard J. Ensor, MAAC Commissioner.