ODU Honors a Record 144 Student-Athletes for Dean’s List Achievement
January 31, 2013
Just before halftime of the men's basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Ted Constant Convocation Center, the hallway at one end of the arena positively teemed with student-athletes. They'd come to watch the basketball game (ODU would lose a close one, 68-66, to Towson University), but more importantly, the dozens and dozens of varsity athletes were there to be recognized for their efforts off the court and fields of play.
For the fall 2012 semester, ODU Athletics saw a record 144 student-athletes earn Dean's List honors, meaning they posted a 3.4 or higher grade point average for the term. Eighteen of those so-called jocks registered a perfect 4.0 for the fall.
Who are these on- and off-court stars? They're students like Nikki Clarke. The junior criminal justice major from Northern Virginia is a defender on the women's soccer team. During the fall season, if you don't see her playing or practicing with her teammates, you're likely to find her in the library.
"It's a challenge. It's like having a job while you go to school," she said, "but for me, I seem to do best when I'm under the gun. I like the pressure of having to manage my time. It means starting assignments earlier, doing them on road trips, taking tests before we go out of town. You have to stay completely organized."
ODU Athletics provides academic support to student-athletes with mandatory study halls, tutoring, and mentoring and support from full-time academic counselors. The new Learning Commons at Perry Library, open 24 hours a day, is also available to student-athletes who frequently have to do schoolwork at odd hours.
Clarke hopes the experience helps her in her post-university career, where she would like to work with the federal government in a justice-related position.
The athletes were recognized in a halftime ceremony at the basketball game, being greeted by President John Broderick, his wife Kate Broderick, Provost Carol Simpson and Athletic Director Wood Selig. At the end of the long procession of students going through and receiving their certificates of recognition, the entire floor of the basketball court was filled with high-achieving student-athletes.
It puts a disappointing men's basketball season in perspective.
Here is the full list of Dean's List student-athletes, broken down by sport:
Cheer and Dance
Megan Gallagher, Patrick Diggs, Katherine Wheeler, Kaitlyn Huett, Johanna Cecelic, Shannon Blount, Brittany Williams, Alyssa Swearingen, Emily Barnes, Jennifer Blake, Kelsey Rutledge, Kristin Anglin
Baseball
Erick Baker, William Burney, Shawn Sizemore, Brandon Smith, Jorge Vega, Christopher Livers, Austin McGowan, Benjamin Slaton, James Phillips
Men's Basketball
Stuart McEwen
Football
Devon Simmons, Frank Burdick, Aquante Thornton, Joseph Pulisic, Connor Martin, Colin McElroy, Joshua Mann, Anderson Miller, Tyler Compton
Men's Golf
Garth McGee, John Dawson, Tim Ritter, Thomas Wilde
Women's Golf
Samantha Morrell, Lauren Eklund, Kimberley Bradbury
Sailing
Cooper Paiva, Dillon Paiva, Rachel Pokorny, Jill Fattibene, Shannon Wilkins, Carly Peterson, Grace Mason, Andrea Luna, Cady Johnson
Men's Soccer
Jordan LeBlanc, Nathan Fogelsong, Ivan Militar, Andre Reyes, Ryan Condotta, Oliver Dethier, Geoffrey Hill, Connor Miller
Swimming/Diving
Jason Haigh, Danial Chalfant, Edwin Teal, Reed Mathews, Benjamin Leach, Megan Dross, Laura Cempel, Chelsea Martin, Sara McLaren, Molly Capes, Kimberley Rashleigh, Giovanna Bodner, Erla Dogg Haralsdottir, Rebecca Moyer, Morgan Johnson, Carrie Goodman, Abby Vance, Morgan Stickle, Rebekah Ewer, Ashley Luchsinger, Mackenzie Payment
Men's Tennis
Carlos Lopez Villa
Women's Tennis
Mina Saygi, Ivana Vukovic
Wrestling
Rodin Ndandula, Adrin Taylor, Jacob Henderson, Jacob Kingett, Matthew Tourdot, Tristan Warner
Women's Basketball
Rebecca Allison, Ashley Betz-White, Galaisha Goodhope, Mairi Buchan
Field Hockey
Emily Hartin, Maartje Van Rijswijk, Julie Hodge, Danielle Clutter, Kelsey Smither, Philippine Cleton, Celine Marquet, Kimberly Oakes, Lydia Velzian, Friederike Jahns
Lacrosse
Emily Austerberry, Christina Rea, Olivia Linehan, Kathleen Bermingham, Theresa Brady, Alexandra Danks, Jessica Liberty, Rachel Shaw, Abigail Johansen, Shelby Davis, Nicole Bellini, Alison Riccio, Karen Hayde, Margaret Clough
Rowing
Mary Given, Allison Giegerich, Kiersten Stephens, Keira Flanagan, Victoria Treat, Kelsea Shiner, Shelby Favre, Lindsey Rodgers, Gretchen Schmitt, Marisa Fruetel, Tayler Gall, Shannon Huff, Brett Wolff, Paige Madison, Ashley Feaganes, Robyn Lutzkanin, Jae Johnson, Erica Herrera, Morgan Tyler, Tanesha Boulden, Jessica Young, Maeghan Pardy
Women's Soccer
Heather Schnake, Taylro Mertz, Jessica Klamut, Brooke Boland, Jordan Jones, Devin Dougherty, Halloran Rogers, Ashlee Coutu, Nikki Clarke, Sarah Price, Caroline Survill