2023-24 D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards
CLEVELAND – The NCAA Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) announced its 2023-24 recipients of the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards on Tuesday. Among the list of honorees were 25 Academy of Art University Urban Knights who thrived in the classroom.
Of the 192 institutions that submitted nominees, a record total of 19,774 student-athletes were recognized for their efforts this past year. The winners of the awards came from nine 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:
Audrey Allen – Softball
Alicia Calderon – Women's Soccer
Raquel Calvo Mendez – Women's Soccer
Elle Edeker – Softball
Lina Ellilä – Volleyball
Alexis Folks – Softball
Tessa Geenen – Women's Golf
Olivia Glover – Softball
Katharina Goetschl – Women's Cross Country/Track & Field
Sydney Harmon – Softball
Erica Hellbe – Women's Tennis
Liberty Herrera – Softball
Katie Humphreys – Softball
Viktoria Leth – Women's Tennis
Hannah Moore – Women's Soccer
Nicole Peoples – Women's Soccer
Jessica Plazas – Women's Tennis
Kamielle Powell – Softball
Napat "Plern" Rattanaprakarn – Women's Golf
Alba Rovira Ayuso – Women's Basketball
Sofia Stemberga – Volleyball
Alicia Thomas – Women's Track & Field
Haley Vaughan – Women's Soccer
Brooklyn Villapudua – Women's Soccer
Giulio Zanichelli – Men's Golf
In addition to Academy of Art, 1,124 student-athletes from eight other schools within the Pacific West Conference also received honors including Azusa Pacific, Biola, Chaminade, Concordia, Dominican, Fresno Pacific, Hawaii Pacific, Point Loma, UH Hilo, and Westmont.
"The goal of this program since inception has been to showcase the amazing student-athletes, coaches and staff, across our Division II landscape," said Bloomsburg Director of Athletics and current D2 ADA President Mike McFarland. "We are fortunate to recognize such deserving individuals on an annual basis. We couldn't be prouder of the work that these individuals put into their craft. Our industry will be a better place as these student-athletes head out into the real world."
