CLEVELAND, Ohio – A total of 59 student-athletes representing Texas A&M University-Commerce have been awarded the Division 2 Athletics Directors Association's Academic Achievement Award for their efforts in the 2019-20 academic year.
A&M-Commerce's 59 honorees are the most for the Lions since the award was created in 2008, beating the previous school record of 58 set in 2018-19. Lion scholar-athletes have increased their record total in each of the last five academic years.
"This high level of academic achievement during an unprecedented time is remarkable," A&M-Commerce Director of Athletics Tim McMurray said. "During the final half of the spring semester, our student-athletes had to be innovative in completing their studies, managing their time, and being patient with their circumstances. To add this to our record spring achievement is certainly reason to celebrate."
In total, there were 15,214 student-athletes from 200 institutions recognized for the 2019-20 Academic Achievement Awards. These numbers shattered the records for highest number of participating institutions and the largest number of student-athletes being nominated since the award program's inception.
"In a year when we can use all of the good news, the D2 ADA Officers and Board of Directors are proud to recognize the highest number of student-athletes with the Academic Achievement Award than ever before," said D2 ADA President JR Smith, director of athletics at Chadron State College. "The nominations also came from a record number of institutions, showcasing the passion and dedication of our Association and Division II as a whole."
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 D2 ADA.
Also, the student-athlete Texas A&M University-Commerce student-athletes who earned the award are:
• Sophomore, Ryan Amador, Men’s Track and Field
• Senior, Brandon Bascue, Men’s Football
• Sophomore, Devin Beamon, Men’s Football
• Senior, Neema Behbahani, Men’s Football
• Senior, Lauren Bently, Women’s Golf
• Junior, Kara Blasingame, Women’s Soccer
• Junior, Avery Boley, Women’s Softball
• Sophomore, Evelyn Brown, Women’s Track and Field/ Cross Country
• Junior, Lexi Bubenchik, Women’s Golf
• Junior, Leslie Campuzano, Women’s Soccer
• Junior, Caleb Cantu, Men’s Track and Field
• Sophomore, Taryn Cast, Women’s Volleyball
• Senior, Shelley Chapron, Women’s Volleyball
• Graduate, Chelsea Cheek, Women’s Track and Field
• Senior, Jessika Coronado, Women’s Soccer
• Senior, Shelbi Court, Women’s Softball
• Senior, Riley Davidson, Women’s Volleyball
• Sophomore, Maiye Dickie, Women’s Volleyball
• Junior, Paige-Lee Garris, Women’s Golf
• Junior, Abigail Gatlin, Women’s Softball
• Junior, Katie Givens, Women’s Soccer
• Junior, Nicki Gonelli, Women’s Volleyball
• Junior, Noah Harris, Men’s Football
• Senior, Kinsie Hebler, Women’s Softball
• Junior, Sophie-Charlott Hempel, Women’s Golf
• Senior, Dylan Henderson, Men’s Track and Field
• Sophomore, Byrson Jenkins, Men’s Football
• Senior, Alexus Jones, Women’s Basketball
• Graduate, Andre Karasch, Men’s Track and Field
• Sophomore, Yenifer Martinez, Women’s Track and Field/ Cross Country
• Sophomore, Cooper Miller, Men’s Track and Field/ Cross Country
• Junior, Dallas Millin, Men’s Golf
• Senior, Ta’Lyn Moody, Women’s Softball
• Junior, Kimber Neal, Women’s Softball
• Sophomore, Karlee Nichols, Women’s Golf
• Junior, Keekee Nowlin, Women’s Basketball
• Junior, Emily Otto, Women’ Softball
• Graduate, Cally Pausewang, Women’s Softball
• Junior, Alex Peavy, Men’s Basketball
• Senior, Nick Petitti, Men’s Football
• Senior, Mason Ray, Men’s Football
• Junior, Rylie Robertson, Women’s Soccer
• Junior, Mason Russ, Men’s Track and Field
• Senior, Steven Sanchez, Men’s Track and Field
• Sophomore, Madison Schaefer, Women’s Softball
• Junior, Cassidy Seaney, Women’s Track and Field/ Cross Country
• Senior, Julia Seigerroth, Women’s Track and Field
• Graduate, Alex Shillow, Men’s Football
• Senior, Chelsea Slider, Women’s Softball
• Graduate, Brandi Stalder, Women’s Track and Field
• Junior, Agang Tac, Women’s Basketball
• Sophomore, Imani Taylor, Women’s Track and Field
• Senior, Allie Thompson, Women’s Softball
• Sophomore, Carson Tuttle, Men’s Basketball
• Sophomore, Celeste Vela, Women’s Volleyball
• Junior, Cora Welch, Women’s Soccer
• Senior, Shelby White, Women’s Track and Field/ Cross Country
• Junior, Madion Zick, Women’s Soccer