FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU Department of Athletics has announced its monthly academic honorees for January. Men's tennis senior Austin Bates along with swimming and diving senior Sommer Harris were named Scholar-Athletes of the Month.
 
Each month during the school year, the FGCU Athletics Communication Office and Athletic Academic staff will choose a pair of Eagles – one male and one female – as the FGCU Athletics Scholar-Athletes of the Month. Those selected for the honor will have exhibited a combination of superior athletic and overall academic success, in particular to that month.
 
Bates (Marietta, Ga./Pope HS) currently carries a 3.59 GPA while majoring in Exercise Science. Since his first year at FGCU, he has notched a spot on the Dean's List four times, while also being a seven-time member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll. This past fall, Bates achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA, garnering him a spot on the President's List for the first time.
 
With the spring season underway, Bates is 4-3 overall in singles play and 1-1 in dual action. At doubles, he has picked up five wins bridging the fall and spring semesters.
 
On the courts last year for the Eagles, the Georgia native capped off the season with six victories in singles play and six triumphs in doubles, with a notable victory over #48 UCF.  Furthermore, Bates has been named to ASUN All-Conference Second Team and ASUN All-Freshman Team during his career.
 
Harris (Richmond, Va./St. Catherine's School) is pursuing a Communications degree and currently boasts a 3.45 GPA. Since the beginning of her sophomore year, Harris has been named a six-time recipient of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, a Dean's List member and an honoree of the President's List the past two semesters.
 
So far in 2017-18, she posted top times in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:03.40) at the Ohio State Invitational, in addition to a 2:18.84 mark in the 200-yard breaststroke.
 
Throughout her career with the Eagles, the Virginia native has reaped CCSA All-Conference and All-Academic plaudits. As a junior, Harris was tabbed a CSCAA Honorable Mention Scholar All-American and posted a pair of NCAA 'B' times at the CCSA Championships in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:01.40) and the 200-yard breaststroke (2:15.57).

2017-18 Scholar Athletes of the Month
August- Lindsey Patton (Soccer) Mario Leon (Baseball)
September- Amanda Carroll (Volleyball) Miguel Jaime (Soccer)
October- Carley Lutzow (Cross country) Doug Smith (Golf)
November- Ashley Parks (Soccer) Ricky Doyle (Basketball)
December- Taylor Gradinjan (Basketball) Marc Coffers (Baseball)
January- Sommer Harris (Swimming & Dive) Austin Bates (Tennis)

ABOUT FGCU
In its 11th season at the Division-I level, FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 65 conference regular season and tournament titles. Additionally, in just 6+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had 31 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best 6th-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. FGCU also claimed the ASUN All-Sports Trophy for the third-straight year and fourth time in five years in 2016-17, in addition to collectively earning a 3.27 GPA in the classroom and serving an all-time high 7,200+ volunteer hours – being recognized as one of two runner-ups for the inaugural NACAD Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
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SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.