University of the Sciences Student-Athletes Earn Academic Achievement Awards

Cleveland, Ohio (August 10, 2011) – The Division II Athletics Directors Association (DII ADA) announced the 2010-11 recipients of the DII ADA Academic Achievement Awards. The Academic Achievement Awards is a program that recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level. Thirty-three student-athletes from the University of the Sciences were amongst the 3,676 athletes recognized from 98 Division II institutions by the NCAA Division II Athletic Directors Association (DII ADA).

In order to be recognized as an Academic Achievement Award recipient, the student athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale; have attended a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college level work and be an active member of an intercollegiate team during his/her last academic year.  The institution’s athletic director must also be a current dues paying member of the DII ADA.

Six of the Devils 33 nominees are earning this award for the third time, led by fifth year women’s basketball player Melissa Rotz.  Named the Philadelphia Inquirer Area All-Academic Women’s Basketball Performer of the year earlier this year, Melissa has the highest grade point average of all the USciences honorees with a 3.971.  She is pursuing a Doctor of Pharmacy degree.  Joining Rotz as three-honorees are Bridget Frymoyer (women’s tennis); Jessica Kaminski (Women’s cross country); Tuynh Nguyen (men’s cross country); Dayna Phillips (women’s softball); and Christine Puschak (women’s volleyball).  Eight additional USciences student-athletes earned the honor for the second time.

The 33 USciences student-athletes are also amongst 211 student-athletes from Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference schools that were honored.  Sciences' 33 honorees represent the highest total of any of the CACC schools that had honorees.

USciences’ 33 honorees are as follows:
 (two time honorees are marked with **; three time honorees with ***):