2014-15 D2ADA Academic Achievement Awards

CLEVELAND -- On Thursday, the Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2ADA) announced the 2014-15 recipients of the D2ADA Academic Achievement Awards. Among the list of honorees were 10 Academy of Art University Urban Knights dedicated to being well-rounded student-athletes.

Of the 147 institutions that submitted nominees, a record total of 7,320 student-athletes were recognized for their efforts this past year. The winners of the awards came from seven different Academy of Art University sports. This select group of 10 Urban Knights earned the distinction, representing ART U among its fellow NCAA Division II institutions.

"We are so proud of our artist-athletes," director of athletics Colin Preston said. "It's great to continue this tradition of honoring academic success with the Division 2 Athletics Directors Association."

The Academic Achievement Award winners were selected based upon a strict set of criteria. In addition to the athletics director of the Division II institution being a current dues paying member of the D2ADA, the student-athletes chosen must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, have attended a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college level work, and have been an active member of an intercollegiate team during his/her last academic year.

Below is an alphabetical list of the Urban Knights earning the D2ADA Academic Achievement Award:

• McKaela Christenson – Women's Cross Country
• Lennart Fleschhut – Men's Soccer
• Natalie Gabriel – Women's Soccer
• Desiree Harris – Women's Basketball
• Jenny Johansson – Women's Tennis
• Elizabeth Khuu – Women's Cross Country
• Sophie Meneses – Women's Soccer
• Amanda Odesjo – Women's Track & Field
• Valentin Pepiot – Men's Cross Country
• Annika Schneider – Women's Tennis

In addition to Academy of Art University, student-athletes from 10 other schools within the Pacific West Conference also received honors. BYU-Hawaii, California Baptist, Chaminade, Dixie State, Dominican, Fresno Pacific, Hawaii Pacific, Holy Names, Notre Dame de Namur, and Point Loma also had names on the distinguished list.

"The D2 ADA continuously strives to recognize the outstanding student-athletes in our division, and we would like to thank and congratulate the institutions that took part in honoring the 2014-15 Academic Achievement Award winners," said D2ADA President Fran Reidy, director of athletics at Saint Leo University. "As an additional platform to showcase outstanding student-athletes, this award allows the D2ADA to highlight the efforts in the classroom, as well as on the playing field."