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The University of Maine Athletic Department honored 258 student-athletes on Feb. 15 at the 20th Annual Scholar-Athlete Recognition Awards Ceremony, the highest number of student-athletes to be recognized in the past 20 years of scholar-athlete recognition. The student-athletes honored earned a 3.0 or higher grade point average in their fall semester. There were 176 Scholar-Athletes, and 82 “Rising Stars.” who are first-year students receiving a 3.0 or better grade point average. The awards given were medallions, which symbolize the number of years each student-athlete has been recognized. They received either a gold medal for being honored for their third or fourth year, a silver medal for their second year or a bronze medal for their first year. The Scholar-Athletes were also recognized during halftime at the UMaine women’s basketball game after the ceremony.
The M Club Dean Smith Award was also given to a male and female athlete with outstanding academics, athletic achievement, citizenship and community service. Ryan Canary, a senior offensive lineman for the football team, and Ashley Waters, a senior infielder for the softball team, were the recipients for this award.
Canary was named to Team Maine for having the highest grade point average on the football team for the past year and was also named the Colonial Athletic Association Football Student-Athlete of the Year. He was a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy in October as well.
Waters, a captain of the softball team, was named the 2008 America East Player of the Year and the 2008 America East Softball Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She was also named to the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association Northeast All-Region Second Team, the fifth player in history to earn this honor.
Athletic academic advisor Myer Taksel said the high number of student-athletes recognized for their achievement does not surprise him.
“There are many high expectations held by the athletic community, the state, the coaches and the team,” Taksel said. “When one is challenged with high expectations by so many, they are bound to achieve success.”
The athletic advisors, Taksel and Ann Maxim, provide a community for the student-athletes to achieve success. Derrick Harris, a sophomore cornerback for the football team and Scholar-Athlete, said the athletic community is what creates such high-achieving athletes.
“We have a great athletic staff,” Harris said. “They are very around-the-clock, proper, and keep us caught up in our classes. They help us perform well on and off the field, and keep us eligible to play. The Sezak Academic Center provides a great opportunity to do well. We are able to access a tutor easily, and this is a great advantage. Other universities may not have this setting for their athletes, and I am very grateful for the opportunities they provide.”
The high number of Scholar-Athletes this year has proven that through the help of advisors and the community, athletes can tackle many obstacles on and off the playing field.
