Jan. 29, 2009
DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Dayton Office of Academic Services for Student-Athletes (OASSA) held its annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Reception Thursday in the UD Arena Boesch Lounge prior to the men's basketball game against Saint Louis.
The reception was highlighted by the announcement of the Presidential Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award, a very prestigious honor which recognizes two student-athletes - one male and one female - who have demonstrated academic excellence, qualities of leadership, and service to the University and Dayton community. Senior football player Bart Bergfeld and senior women's soccer player Amanda Gallow are this year's recipients of the Presidential Outstanding Scholar-Athlete Award.
The OASSA Academic Cup is awarded to the team with the highest cumulative grade point average. This year the winner of the Cup is the Flyer women's cross country squad with its 3.59 GPA.
There were 31 student-athletes honored with the 4.00 Flyers Award, given to those individuals who attained a perfect grade point average of 4.00 during the winter or fall 2008 semesters. In addition, 173 student-athletes registered a 3.50 or higher GPA - meaning 42 percent of the student-athlete population were 3.50 Honorees.
The Flyer All-Academic Team is comprised of the student-athletes who have earned the highest cumulative grade point average on their respective team. University of Dayton Vice President/Director of Athletics Tim Wabler presented the awards to: Ashley Cattran (track and field), Kristin Daugherty (women's basketball), William Falk (football), Amanda Gallow (women's soccer), Allison Gates (rowing), Kellaina Grote (women's tennis), Kurt Huelsman (men's basketball), Chris Lemon (men's cross country), Daniel March (men's soccer), Alicia Nichols (softball), Becky Novacek (volleyball), David Peyton (men's tennis), Paige Smith (women's golf), Kristin Terry (women's cross country), Eric Wagner (baseball) and Chris Woeste (men's golf).
There were also two awards announced that are part of the athletic department's honors convocation: The Reverend Charles L. Collins, S.M. Award of Excellence to an Athlete for Outstanding Citizenship and The Charles R. Kendall '29 Memorial Award of Excellence for Achievement in Academic and Athletic Effort .
The Athletics Citizenship award, donated by Joseph Zusman, recognizes an individual student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding citizenship. This year the honoree was senior women's tennis player Nicole Dzubay.
The Charles R. Kendall Award, donated by Mrs. Charles R. Kendall and friends, recognizes an individual student-athlete who has demonstrated excellent academic and athletic achievements. The winner of the award this year was senior men's golfer Rob Chappell.
OASSA exists to provide student-athletes with the best possible services to ensure academic development, success and graduation. It promotes a philosophy of individual responsibility to encourage student-athletes to take ownership in their academic and personal pursuits.
The Flyers' combined cumulative grade point average is currently a school-record 3.2294. In addition, UD has had 35 Academic All-Americans in the last eight years and at least one Academic All-American for 25 straight years. The University of Dayton's 96% Graduation Success Rate leads the Atlantic 10 Conference and ties for 10th in the NCAA in the latest breakdown of Division I graduation rate data.
