CLEVELAND, Ohio − Flagler College had 20 of its student-athletes recognized by the Division II Athletics Directors Association (DII ADA). The Academic Achievement Awards, presented by WeatherPORT, is a program that recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level. Flagler was also one-of-five Peach Belt Conference member institutions to have student-athletes honored.
Ninety-two institutions sent in nominees for the 2009-10 Academic Achievement Awards, while a total of 3,022 student-athletes are being recognized this year.
In order for a student-athlete to receive an Academic Achievement Award, the athletics director of the Division II institution must be a current dues paying member of the DII ADA.
Also, the student-athlete must: 1) have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale; 2) have attended a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college level work; and 3) have been an active member of an intercollegiate team during his/her last academic year.
Those earning the award from Flagler are:
Alex Bonus (Hershey, Pa./Palmyra Area HS) and
Ben Joslin (Melrose, Mass./Melrose HS) from men's cross country;
April Robinson (St. Augustine, Fla./Pedro Menendez HS), Madeleine Wagner (New Port Richey, Fla./J.W. Mitchell HS),
Laura McKnight (Jupiter, Fla./Jupiter HS),
Samantha Kunsch (Long Island, N.Y./Center Moriches HS) and
Jennifer Griner (New Port Richey, Fla./J.W. Mitchell HS) from women's cross country;
Johan Bergfeld (Akers Styckebruk, Sweden/Rekarnegymnasiet) and
Dan Reid (Dublin, Ireland/University of Dublin) from men's soccer;
Rafaela Faria (San Jose, Brazil/Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina),
Eileen New (Mims, Fla./Astronaut HS),
Ryan Pando (Oviedo, Fla./Oviedo HS) and
Kincaid Schmidt (Palmetto, Fla./Palmetto HS) from women's soccer;
Lauren Bailie (Loganville, Ga./Loganville HS) and
Charlsea Owen (St. Augustine, Fla./Pedro Menendez HS) from women's basketball;
Olivia Snipes (Easley, S.C./Easley HS) from volleyball;
Chelsea Taylor (Bradenton, Fla./Bradenton Prep Academy) from women's tennis;
Tim Hansson (Norrkoping, Sweden/Mercyhurst College) from men's tennis;
Michael Lamping (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Jerome HS) from men's golf; and
Devon Hellett (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Gulf Coast CC) from baseball.
The DII ADA is the first organization of its kind to provide educational and networking opportunities; enhancement of acceptable operating standards and ethics; and establishment of the overall prestige and understanding of the profession of Division II athletics directors.
Flagler College, located in St. Augustine, Fla., is a member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the Peach Belt Conference and sponsors 13 intercollegiate sports. Flagler became a full member of NCAA Division II in the summer of 2008 and a member of the Peach Belt last summer.
