March 14, 2013
Continuing the tradition of academic excellence among
student-athletes, 68 members of St. John’s University’s varsity
teams were honored as members of the BIG EAST All-Academic Team at
a center court ceremony during the February 6 men’s basketball game
at Madison Square Garden.
In all, 181 student-athletes achieved All-Academic status for
2011–2012, including 16 student-athletes from the men’s and women’s
fencing teams, which do not participate in the BIG EAST conference.
The Red Storm men’s lacrosse and baseball teams also earned BIG
EAST Team Academic Excellence Awards, with the highest GPAs in the
conference for their respective sports.
“We are very proud of our student-athletes for achieving this
honor,” said Eric Rienecker, Director, Academic Support Services.
“They invest a tremendous amount of time both in the classroom, in
the community, and on the field of competition.”
To qualify for the All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must
have competed in a BIG EAST-sponsored sport, earned a varsity
letter, attained a minimum 3.0 GPA, and completed a minimum of two
consecutive semesters of academic work. The number of St. John’s
student-athletes meeting the All-Academic Team criteria has risen
each year since 2006.
Greeting the student-athletes on court were Rienecker, Chris
Monasch, Director of Athletics, Larry Boone, Ph.D., Associate
Professor of Management in The
Peter J. Tobin College of Business, and Nancy Kaplan, Ph.D.,
Associate Vice President, Academic Support Services.
“These students epitomize the true meaning of the term,
‘student-athlete,’” said Rienecker. “The recognition is a clear
reflection of their dedication to being the best of the best.”