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 2012 as part of a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) initiative. The pin will honor the student-athletes' performances on the field as well as in the classroom.

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.

"Student-athletes do not only attend school to play sports but to earn an education," said Katie Carew, the MAAC's National SAAC representative. "This pin represents the success graduating seniors have had in the classroom while participating in a Division I sport. Representatives of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committees from all ten MAAC schools developed this idea so student-athletes would be recognized at commencement for their dedication and commitment to academics."

The idea behind honoring the student-athletes came from a MAAC SAAC seminar 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 was approved by the Council of Presidents to honor the student-athletes.

"It is exciting that the MAAC's All-Academic Team members will be recognized at their school graduations for their excellence in the classroom as well as for their athletic achievements," noted Richard J. Ensor, MAAC Commissioner. "I congratulate MAAC SAAC chair Katie Carew from Siena College for leading the effort that led to the MAAC Council of Presidents authorizing this honor."