2019-20 D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards
CLEVELAND – The NCAA Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) recently announced its 2019-20 recipients of the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards. Among the list of honorees were a program record 29 Academy of Art University Urban Knights who thrived in the classroom and during the shift to online learning in the spring.
Of the 200 institutions that submitted nominees, a record total of 15,214 student-athletes were recognized for their efforts this past year. The winners of the awards came from 11 different Academy of Art University sports and this select group of 29 Urban Knights earned the distinction, representing ART U among its fellow NCAA Division II institutions.
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 D2 ADA, 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 D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards:
Markus Anderson Deakin – Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Jasmine Becker – Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Bianca Bryant – Women's Track & Field
Baylie Christensen – Women's Soccer
Zhane Chan – Men's Golf
Ty Conrad – Baseball
Mariana Figueroa Ferriera – Volleyball
Elan Hawkins – Women's Golf
Otto Homruen – Men's Golf
Rabah Houali – Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Julius Kreutzer – Men's Golf
Han-Chuan "Vicky" Kuo – Women's Golf
Austin LaBarber - Baseball
Lester Lagman – Men's Golf
Vincent Lontz – Baseball
Brooklyn Morera – Women's Soccer
Natalia Novak – Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Lara Pflicke – Women's Soccer
Iveta Posledni – Women's Golf
Luka Radovic – Men's Basketball
Picabo Reinhold – Volleyball
Dominique Seva'aetasi – Softball
Cannon Secrist – Baseball
Hava Turner – Women's Track & Field
Reyna Valencia – Women's Soccer
Jillian Wheaton – Volleyball
Anissa Wilson – Women's Soccer
Jenny Wittor – Women's Soccer
James Young – Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
In addition to Academy of Art University, student-athletes from seven other schools within the Pacific West Conference also received honors including Biola, Chaminade, Concordia (Calif.), Dominican, Fresno Pacific, Holy Names, Point Loma, and UH Hilo.
"In a year when we can use all of the good news, the D2 ADA Officers and Board of Directors are proud to recognize the highest number of student-athletes with the Academic Achievement Award than ever before," said D2 ADA President JR Smith, director of athletics at Chadron State College. "The nominations also came from a record number of institutions, showcasing the passion and dedication of our Association and Division II as a whole."
