Sep 5, 2013
By Julie Bacanskas, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Season after season, the Penn State field hockey team demonstrates exemplary character, both on the field and in the classroom, and NCAA President Mark Emmert recently acknowledged that dedication.
"We received a letter from Mark Emmert, president of the NCAA, commending our team on its academic progress rate, which is a record of having your athletes graduate over a four year period," said the team's head coach Charlene Morett. "We have been doing that successfully since they started the program."
During the 2012-13 academic year, the Penn State field hockey team earned a perfect multi-year APR, or academic progress rate, of 1000, which is above the NCAA DI average of 974. Furthermore, the Nittany Lions were ranked in the top 10 percent for academic progress ratings among the nation's field hockey programs, an honor that resulted in the sixth consecutive NCAA APR Public Recognition Award for the Nittany Lions. During eight years of the program, the Lions received the award seven times.
In addition to academic team awards, six student-athletes from the 2012 field hockey team were recognized at the conclusion of Penn State's 2012-2013 academic year, being selected for the Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award. In order to earn the award, a student-athlete must earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.7 or higher.
While the student-athlete and overall team academic success of the Penn State field hockey program is extremely impressive, the NCAA recognized the Lions because they were able to combine this academic success with athletic dominance on the field.
"The letter also mentioned our success on the field athletically and the success our team has experienced in the NCAA and within our conference," added Morett, whose squad went 18-4 overall last season and 5-1 in conference play.
Additionally, the Lions earned the title of Big Ten Conference Champions during their past two seasons, which stands as a testament to the hard work of every individual involved in the program.
Morett chose to share news of the NCAA letter during the team's first preseason meeting, allowing these student-athletes to be recognized for their stellar efforts and commitment to Penn State athletics and academics.
"I led off our preseason meeting with the news and just told the team how proud I was of them," stated Morett. "It's really why you bring the players here, to be successful both academically and athletically. That's the bar that we've always had here at Penn State."
"Our student-athletes have been exemplary," continued Morett. "I think for us, as Penn State athletes, to have and get this type of NCAA recognition is what people need to see."
In the wake of receiving this NCAA letter from Emmert, the Nittany Lions have continued to academically and athletically excel. The field hockey student-athletes are now entering their second week of class and have just come off a tough weekend road trip where they were able to take down Old Dominion, but fell to the Cavaliers. The Nittany Lions strive to continue their on-field success at home this weekend with a game against Temple at 6 p.m. on Friday and a second game against No. 4 Connecticut at 12 p.m. on Sunday.
"Overall, we do a great job here at Penn State, across the board with all the sports, by letting our recruits know that this is a university where we have academic and athletic integrity. The two are not mutually exclusive," said Morett. "Our job and our response is to make sure that these student-athletes understand that getting a degree is going to be a priority."