April 16, 2015 By Sean Donnelly, GoPSUsports.com Student Staff Writer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State tradition of being champions on the field, in the classroom and the community is well documented. This year was no different, as 292 student-athletes were honored for their achievements on and off the field.
Everybody was on-hand in President's Hall at the Penn Stater for the 28th Annual SAAB Academic Achievement Awards Banquet on Monday to celebrate. A total of 370 awards were handed out to student-athletes this year.
"This is a great celebration of what we're all about, which is an educational opportunity for over 800 student-athletes every year for Penn State." said Athletic Director Sandy Barbour. "Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics serves as a connection for the largest alumni group in the country."
After serving eight months as Athletic Director, Barbour could not be prouder of how well student-athletes represent their sport and institution.
"The expectations here are to compete for national championships and to compete in the athletic venue," said Barbour. "But it's much more than that. The awards tonight really speak to what Penn State is all about. It's not about numbers. It's about people, passion and purpose. I'll match our passion and expertise against anybody's across the country."
Lady Lion Tori Waldner served as 2014-15 Student Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) President. An Academic All-Big Ten selection, Waldner understands the importance and tradition of taking a Penn State education seriously.
"I think there's a precedent there that has been set," said Waldner. "The staff has made it a point to make sure we do well, and coaches hold us to a really high standard.
Student-athletes hold themselves accountable and to a higher standard when attending Penn State. They know how important an education is, and that a Penn State degree has value.
"When you come in, you know you have to do well," said Waldner. "I've learned from a lot of different people. Not just from my professors or coaches, but other leaders around me."
Penn State finished with 285 Academic All-Big Ten honorees, five of which had a 4.0 GPA for the 2013-14 academic year. The combined GPA of varsity men and women's sports was 3.08, with 19 teams earning a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Penn State competes fiercely with the rest of the country in all 31 sports, but the fiercest competition was for the Milton K. Morgan Jr. Highest Team GPA Award. In the end, men's golf and field hockey was victorious. Men's golf, which had seven Academic All-Big Ten selections, took home the Milton K. Morgan Jr. Highest Team GPA Award for all sports.
Since 1988, only four men's teams have taken home the coveted Highest Team GPA Award. This year was the third for men's golf.
The Nittany Lion Club "True Grit" Awards were the most powerful highlight of the night. Glen Burkhardt from men's track and field battled injuries throughout his collegiate career. His passion for his sport and dedication to his rehab has to led to him finally achieving his goal in wearing the Penn State uniform. Through it all, he was still able to set personal records.
The next recipient of the True Grit Award was Mallory Weber from women's soccer, who has shown a tremendous amount of courage and resilience in the face of serious adversity in her collegiate career. After helping lead her club to the Elite 8, Weber was named team captain for her senior year.
The biggest individual honor of the night came in the form of the Big Ten Medal of Honor. The highest distinction in student-athlete academics, only 28 student-athletes are given the award each year. Nia Grant from women's volleyball and Matt Brown from wrestling attained the greatest proficiency in athletic and scholastic work.
A leader on the court for the women's volleyball team, back-to-back national champion and two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree Nia Grant earned 2013-14 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Athlete honors. She is currently training for the World University Games representing her country in South Korea alongside fellow Nittany Lion, Micha Hancock.
A three-time All-American and national champion, Matt Brown's collegiate career outside of athletics is equally as impressive. Brown is a two-time first-team national All-Academic winner from the National Wrestling Coaches Association. Coming up this May, Brown will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and expects to specialize in military intelligence with the Pennsylvania National Guard. Brown will also continue training for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
"It shows that they have the right priorities," said Brown referring to Penn State Athletic's emphasis on education. "The Morgan Center in particular focuses on the right things in helping us do our very best in the classroom. It's shown I can get a good education while competing in my sport and in my field. The professors are top notch. I love it here."
For Russell Mushinsky, Director of the Morgan Academic Support Center for Student Athletes, the accomplishments of those in attendance reaffirmed what Penn State culture is all about.
"It's all about the student-athlete experience," said Mushinsky. "Making sure they're getting a quality education, supported in the classroom, reaching academic and career goals, and reaching all types of accomplishments in their sports."
While capturing 16 Big Ten championships and five NCAA titles since September 2012, Penn State has continued to shatter academic records, including 241 Dean's List recipients for 2014 fall semester.
"That balance is something that has been evident as long as Penn State Athletics has been in place and that culture has always been here. This group tonight just continued that tradition. It's a group we're really proud of and is something that's really important to the people at Penn State."