[January 24, 2007]

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Gulf South Conference has released the 2006 Fall All-Academic Teams, and Academic Honor Roll that includes 31 Southern Arkansas University student-athletes, six of them named to the conference All-Academic Teams. A total of 82 student-athletes across the league were named All-Academic, including six three-time selections, and 19 who were members of the 2005 team.

The GSC All-Academic Teams are nominated by the conference sports information directors (SIDs), and selected by the SIDs and Faculty Athletic Representatives in a joint vote. Nominees must have an overall grade point (GPA) of 3.20 or better on a 4.00 scale for their entire academic career and may not be a freshman or first-year participant.

Members of the GSC Academic Honor Roll must post a minimum of a cumulative 3.00 GPA and have competed during their respective season. All student-athletes, including freshmen and first-year participants, are eligible for the Honor Roll.

All-Academic Team honorees from SAU are Morgan Collier in men’s cross country, August (Augie) Berend, Damian Melancon, and Daneiro Robiskie in football, and Kristina Daily and Andrea Spradlin in volleyball.

Collier, from Mesquite, Texas, is a double-major in Spanish and business administration-finance, and sports a 3.71 GPA. The junior was on both the 2004 and 2005 GSC Academic Honor Roll, and is a four-time member of the Southern Arkansas Dean’s List (3.50 or better). Collier finished in the top 25 in three meets this past year, including 11th-place finishes at both the Southern Arkansas and Mississippi Valley State Invitational’s. He finished 35th in a 65-man field to help lead the Muleriders to a sixth-place finish at the GSC championship.

Berend, a tight end out of Windthorst, Texas, posted a 3.27 GPA in health, kinesiology and recreation (HKR), with a minor in health education. He was a member of the 2005 GSC Academic Honor Roll, and is a two-time member of the SAU Dean’s List. A senior, Berend converted to tight end this past season after playing linebacker his first three years for the Muleriders. He had three receptions for 61 yards and one touchdown, and six tackles, four solo, on special teams play this past season.

A quarterback from Hester, La., Melancon is one of the six three-time selections to the All-Academic Team, having been named in 2004 and 2005 as well. He holds a 3.24 GPA in general studies. Four times (2002-05) he was named to the GSC Academic Honor Roll, and he is a five-time member of the Southern Arkansas Dean’s List. A senior, Melancon holds five school records, and ended his career as second all-time at SAU in passing yards and touchdowns, second all-time in total offensive plays and yards, and third all-time in pass attempts and completions.

Robiskie, a safety out of Vacherie, La., has a 3.68 GPA in business administration-organizational management. A member of the 2005 GSC Academic Honor Roll, he has also made the Dean’s List all three semesters while at Southern Arkansas. As a sophomore, Robiskie finished this past year with 12 tackles and one pass breakup.

A middle blocker from Houston, Texas, Daily sports a 3.55 GPA in accounting. The junior was a member of the 2004 and 2005 GSC Academic Honor Roll, and is a member of the SAU President’s List (4.00) and two-time member of the SAU Dean’s List. Daily was named Second Team All-GSC this past season, and was honored as a member of two all-tournament teams during the fall. She led this year’s Lady Mulerider squad in kills, kills per game, attack percentage, solo blocks, and points.

Spradlin, a setter out of Dallas, Texas, posted an impressive 3.92 GPA in accounting. She was a 2006 ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-District VI selection, was on both the 2004 and 2005 GSC Academic Honor Rolls, is a four-time member of the Southern Arkansas President’s List, and a member of the SAU Dean’s List. Spradlin has made all “A’s” with the exception of two “B’s” in five semesters. A junior, she led this year’s team in assists and assists per game.

Mulerider men’s cross country members joining Collier on the GSC Academic Honor Roll include Elliot Isom, a senior with a 3.02 in psychology; Joshua Mitchell, a junior with a 3.58 in exercise science, and Kevin Perez, a freshman with a 3.60 in HKR.

Members of the Southern Arkansas women’s cross country team making the honor roll include Pamela Elmore, a freshman with a 3.37 in early childhood education; Marija Kolarevic, a junior with a 3.60 in accounting; Michaela Krcova, a freshman with a 4.00 in business administration-finance; Kendall Mears, a sophomore with a 3.02 in exercise science; Gabriela (Gaby) Mendoza, a senior with a 3.71 in Spanish education; Lindsay Musielak, a senior with a 3.88 in business administration-marketing; and Ashley Weeks, a senior with a 3.72 in psychology.

Joining Berend, Melancon, and Robiskie on the football honor roll are Joshua Bryant, a freshman with a 3.08 in mass communications-broadcasting; Johnny Fields, a junior with a 3.20 in business administration-management; William Kitchen, a freshman with a 3.54 in HKR; Clayton Norman, a junior with a 3.40 in HKR; Cedrick Powell, a freshman with a 3.28 in computer science; Kenaz (Ken) Smith, with a 3.25 in HKR; and Benjamin (Ben) Williams, an undecided major with a 3.63.

Other members of the SAU volleyball team joining Daily and Spradlin on the honor roll include Brandi Beeson, a junior with a 3.10 in business administration-finance; Sarah Bell, a sophomore with a 3.60 in exercise science; Shai Hinojosa, a freshman with a 3.06 in biological science; Kayli Kerr, a junior with a 3.66 in HKR; Jessica (Jessie) Mailhes, a senior with a 3.89 in early childhood education; Mallory McKee, a sophomore with a 3.46 in criminal justice; Mary (Maggie) Ross, a freshman with a 3.00 in psychology; and Jessica Sutten, a junior with a 3.00 in psychology.

#SAU#