March 29, 2024

CSM Athletes Honored for Academics

CSM athletes

Athletes at the College of Southern Maryland know that their academic performance is always the top priority. Several CSM athletes have been recognized for that performance by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and Maryland Junior College Athletic Conference (MD JUCO) during the 2015-16 season.

Huntingtown’s Alejandro Smith earned the NJCAA Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence. The Pinnacle Award recognizes student-athletes who achieve a 4.0 grade point average on a 4.00 scale for 36 quarter hours or 24 semester hours. Smith was a member of the men’s cross country team.

Three student athletes earned the NJCAA Award for Superior Academic Achievement. The first, in alphabetical order, was Corrine Fernald of Mechanicsville, softball; second was Sydney Schultz of Waldorf; women’s soccer; and third was Austin Staats of La Plata, men’s soccer. This award recognizes student-athletes with a 3.80 to 3.99 GPA on a 4.00 scale for 36 quarter hours or 24 semester hours.

Four students earned the NJCAA Award for Exemplary Academic Achievement. The first, in alphabetical order, was Kaitlyn Hilgenberg of Huntingtown, women’s lacrosse; second was Michael Maragh of Lexington Park, men’s soccer; third was Zach Wehausen of Welcome, baseball; and fourth was Rachael Yatty of La Plata, women’s soccer. This award recognizes student-athletes with a 3.60 to 3.79 GPA on a 4.00 scale for 36 quarter hours or 24 semester hours.

Six CSM students have been named to the Region XX NJCAA All-Academic Team. These athletes are required to have completed at least 36 credit hours of college course work, with at least a 3.5 GPA and must have competed in one season of varsity sports in the year they are nominated. The six students were Emily Smith of Waldorf, women’s volleyball; Sydney Schultz of Waldorf, women’s soccer; Diana Cruz of Lexington Park, women’s softball; Andrew Fisher of Charlotte Hall, men’s lacrosse; Rachael Yatty of La Plata, women’s soccer; and Alejandro Smith of Huntingtown, men’s cross country.

Eight student-athletes were named to the MD JUCO All-Academic Team for first-year students. These athletes are required to have passed 18 credits in two semesters with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and must compete in the varsity sport in the year they are nominated. The eight students were Austin Staats of La Plata, men’s soccer; Michael Maragh of Lexington Park, men’s soccer; Zach Wehausen of Welcome, men’s baseball; Emily Smith of Waldorf, women’s volleyball; Corrine Fernald of Mechanicsville, women’s softball; Thomas Jones of Waldorf, men’s cross country; Lindsay Calderone of Mechanicsville, women’s lacrosse; and Kaitlyn Hilgenberg of Huntingtown, women’s lacrosse.

Five CSM athletes were named to the MD JUCO All-Academic Team that is reserved for second-year students. They must have passed 42 credits in four semesters with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and must compete in the varsity sport during the year they are nominated. They were Sydney Schultz of Waldorf, women’s soccer; Diana Cruz of Lexington Park, women’s softball; Andrew Fisher of Charlotte Hall, men’s lacrosse; Rachael Yatty of La Plata, women’s soccer; and Alejandro Smith of Huntingtown, men’s cross country.

“The accomplishments of our student-athletes in the classroom, in the heat of competition and in their everyday lives speak to the character and caliber of the young men and women of CSM who participate in sports while advancing their academic pursuits,” said Michelle Ruble, lead director of the student life and athletics department.

There are about 200 students participating in athletics at CSM, she said. The college offers men’s baseball, basketball, golf, lacrosse, and soccer, and women’s basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and volleyball. Students must be enrolled at CSM in a minimum of 12 credit hours for the entire time they participate in a sport. This is considered full-time status and is required by the NJCAA.

Those interested in participating in athletics at CSM, can learn more about the athletic programs and find a recruitment questionnaire here.  To follow CSM athletics during the 2016-17 academic year, visit the new website for Hawk Athletics.

For more about the College of Southern Maryland, visit their Leader member page.

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