RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced its 2015-16 Winter/Spring All-Academic Teams for this past year on Thursday afternoon and 27 student-athletes from Southern Arkansas University were among the 413 total student athletes from around the league that were honored.
For student-athletes to be recognized on the Academic All-Conference team, they must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing (true freshmen and redshirt freshmen are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at the nominating institution. In addition, their grade-point average must be a minimum of 3.30 based on the 4.0 system. The GPA shall be cumulative for the athlete's entire collegiate career.
"The student-athletes of the Great American Conference continue to impress me with their achievements in the classroom and on the field of competition," GAC Commissioner Will Prewitt said. "This record total of All-Academic selections serves as a testament to our student-athletes, faculty, administrators and support staff."
Of the 27 SAU student-athletes honored, the largest sport representation came from the softball program as 11 softball players earned the conference academic plaudit. The baseball program boasted the second-most student-athletes as eight baseball players were listed. Additionally, men's golf placed three student-athletes and men's and women's track placed two apiece. Women's golf rounded out SAU's representation with one honoree.
The following is a list of the SAU student-athletes on the 2015-16 Winter/Spring All-Academic Teams:
| Sport |
Name |
Academic Year |
Major |
Hometown |
GPA |
| Men's Golf |
George Adams |
Senior |
Business Admin: Managment |
Derbyshire, England |
3.57 |
| Men's Golf |
Kyle Gordon |
Junior |
Accounting |
Whitby, Ontatrio |
3.56 |
| Men's Golf |
Zac Harber |
Junior |
Business Admin: Marketing |
Hugo, Okla. |
3.47 |
| Women's Golf |
Helle Leed |
Sophomore |
Behavior Science: Criminal Justice |
Vallda Halland, Sweden |
3.71 |
| Baseball |
Jace Powers |
Senior |
General Studies |
Dover, Ark. |
3.59 |
| Baseball |
Landon Simpson |
Senior |
Exercise Science |
Magnolia, Ark. |
3.61 |
| Baseball |
Billy Germaine |
Senior |
Exercise Science |
Aldergrove, B.C. |
3.77 |
| Baseball |
Justin Buchanan |
Senior |
Biology: Pre-Health |
Texarkana, Texas |
3.59 |
| Baseball |
Timothy Buchanan |
Senior |
Biology: Pre-Health |
Texarkana, Texas |
3.67 |
| Baseball |
Scotty Carmody |
Junior |
K-12 Physical Education & Health |
Camden, Ark. |
3.81 |
| Baseball |
Cole Connelley |
Junior |
Biology: Pre-Health |
Monticello, Ark. |
3.93 |
| Baseball |
Trevor Ward |
Sophomore |
Business Admin: Finance-Entrepreneurship |
Bedford, Texas |
3.31 |
| Softball |
Chelsea Jordan |
Senior |
General Studies |
Paris, Texas |
3.74 |
| Softball |
Darian Harris |
Senior |
Mathematics |
Brazoria, Texas |
3.63 |
| Softball |
Kim Whelehon |
Senior |
Exercise Science |
Ramona, Calif. |
3.80 |
| Softball |
Ashton Atwell |
Senior |
Exercise Science |
Rockwall, Texas |
3.57 |
| Softball |
Liz Hudgins |
Senior |
Psychology |
Mineola, Texas |
3.64 |
| Softball |
Summer Ehrig |
Senior |
Psychology |
Yuma, Ariz. |
3.47 |
| Softball |
Miranda Cuff |
Junior |
Athletic Training |
Clarksdale, Miss. |
3.35 |
| Softball |
Maddie Dow |
Junior |
Athletic Training |
Bonham, Texas |
3.87 |
| Softball |
Peyton Jenkins |
Junior |
Agriculture Science-Plant Science |
Bryant, Ark. |
3.57 |
| Softball |
Shyanne Nichols |
Senior |
General Studies |
Gravette, Ark. |
3.63 |
| Softball |
Tyler Casada |
Junior |
Biological Science |
Rowlett, Texas |
3.63 |
| Men's Track and Field |
Raul Hernandez |
Sophomore |
Criminal Justice |
Indio, Calif. |
3.32 |
| Men's Track and Field |
Mason Powers |
Senior |
Business Admin: Entrepreneurship |
Gilbert, Iowa |
3.41 |
| Women's Track and Field |
Claudia Charles |
Sophomore |
Behavior Science: Psychology |
Lindale, Texas |
3.60 |
| Women's Track and Field |
Virginia Ney |
Senior |
Mass Communications: Digital Cinema |
Pearland, Texas |
3.36 |