FORT MYERS, Fla. – Just one year after the Eagles witnessed their fourth student-athlete in school history join the FGCU Hall of Fame, the Green and Blue are proud to see two more outstanding seniors enter this prestigious rank. Softball standout Kelsey Carpenter and swimming & diving program record-holder Emma Svensson were both inducted into the impressive 2015 class on Thursday, Apr. 2.

Individuals inducted demonstrated superior leadership, integrity and achievement through their leadership qualities, service, academic achievement and contribution to the FGCU community.

Carpenter (Oviedo, Fla./Hagerty HS) has impacted the Southwest Florida and FGCU communities all while patrolling center field.  
 
The exercise science major has held a 3.93 GPA while being a two-time recipient of the Robert and Bette Batson Scholarship, which only two students receive in the Exercise Science program. The last two years Carpenter has been the captain of the softball team and also became the founding president of FGCU's Fellowship of Christian Athletes. While maintaining a spot on the President's List or Dean's List every semester, Carpenter has volunteered 60 hours each for Habitat for Humanity and Summit Student Ministries.
 
A four-year starter, Carpenter has earned selections on the Atlantic Sun All-Conference Second Team (2013), A-Sun All-Conference First Team (2014), A-Sun Conference All-Tournament Team (2014) and was recently tabbed the 2015 A-Sun Preseason Player of the Year. Last season, she led the A-Sun with a batting average of .432.  Her exploits at the plate continued as she led the Blue and Green with 51 RBI, 76 hits and 10 doubles.  Carpenter's .458 batting average with runners on base and her .505 on-base percentages were crucial in leading the Eagles to the A-Sun conference tournament championship game.
 
"I feel completely blessed and honored to receive an honor such as this," said Carpenter. "Especially when there are so many other well-qualified people to choose from. This is something I would have never dreamed of when I signed four years ago to come here. I am thankful for my coaches, professors, advisers and family for encouraging and teaching me along the way."
 
In previous seasons Carpenter has also been named to NFCA All-South Region second and third teams, in addition to being a College Sports Madness A-Sun All-Conference First Team choice.

This season, the senior is the only player to start all 39 of the Eagles' games while batting .342 in 111 at bats.  She leads the Green and Blue with 38 hits, a .523 slugging percentage, 58 total bases, 17 walks and 25 RBI.  She is also the only Eagle with more than 50 putouts to not record an error.

"I have been a coach and educator for 20 years and Kelsey is easily in the top 1 percent of any student or athlete I have ever worked with," said head coach David Deiros. "Her work ethic is 'off the charts,' her character is beyond reproach and her spirit is indomitable.  She is deserving of her election to the FGCU Hall of Fame."  

Svensson (Upsala, Sweden/Celsiusskolan) has maintained a 3.89 GPA as an economics major and an honors student at the same time as she has set multiple program records in the swimming pool.
 
The Swede became the captain of the FGCU swim team in 2013 and has been a mainstay on the FGCU's President List for the last three years. Svensson was a research assistant for the FGCU Honors Program last year while having a concentration on the Eurozone crisis and finding business applications of calculus and behavioral economics. The mathmatics minor has spent her time volunteering in the community through the FGCU Actuarial Science Club, Hope for Haiti and Mesina Children's Hospital.
 
"I am very honored to be selected to this year's Hall of Fame," said Svensson. "I am thankful for the opportunity that the honors program, the athletic department, my professors, classmates and other friends have given me to contribute to the FGCU community. Success is a team effort, and during my time at FGCU I have been encouraged to let my curiosity lead the way for my learning, which is something I will find useful for my future career whether it be in academia or as a business professional."
 
As a freshman in 2011-12, Svensson became the first Eagles' swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships.  She was named a Mid-Major All-American and earned CCSA All-Conference honors in addition to being honored as CCSA's Most Outstanding Female Freshman Performer of the Championship Meet.
 
Her dominance continued throughout her sophomore campaign as she was selected as the NCAA Elite 89 Award Winner, again qualifying for the NCAA Championships while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and also notched her first CCSA Swimmer of the Year award. 
 
She followed the impressive performance with a 2013-14 that saw her receive College Swimming Coaches Association of America Honorable Mention All-America and set six FGCU program records: two individually; 50 free (22.09), 100 free (49.13) and four as a member of a relay team; 200 free (1:30.24), 400 free (3:20.13), 200 medley (1:38.63), 400 medley (3:40.69). Her performances in the 50 free and 400 free relays also set CCSA records.  At the NCAA Championships, she scored FGCU points for the first time in program history, placing 12th in the 50-yard freestyle with a 22.33 time.
 
This season, the Swedish standout continued her spree of shattering records at the 2015 CCSA Championship meet, breaking her own mark in the 50 free with a new CCSA and FGCU-program record time of 21.98. She was named CCSA Women's Most Outstanding Swimmer of the Championship Meet and will again lead the Eagles into the NCAA Championships later this week. At the NCAA Championships, she scored FGCU's first points at the meet, placing 12th in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 22.12. Svensson also helped the Eagles earn their first ever points in a relay event when the 200-yard relay team touched the pads in a time of 1:37.55 to finish eighth. 

"Emma never ceases to amaze us," said head coach Neal Studd. "She is outstanding in everything she does.  What a great way to cap out four tremendous years at FGCU. I am so incredibly proud of her." 
 
The duo joins 2013 graduates in women's swimming & diving's Shannon Blizzard and men's soccer's Deion Jones, 2012 graduate men's tennis player Steve Binninger and 2014 graduate women's basketball star Sarah Hansen as the first six Eagles to ever receive the illustrious honor.
 
ABOUT FGCU
In just its 8th year as a Division-I member, FGCU has won a combined 42 conference regular season and tournament titles as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference and Coastal Collegiate Swimming Association. In just its 4th year of D-I postseason eligibility, FGCU has made 16 total NCAA Championship appearances. Ticket information for upcoming events is available by calling 239-590-7145. Additional news and schedule information is available at FGCUAthletics.com. Follow us on Twitter (@FGCUEagles), Facebook (/FGCUAthletics), Instagram (@FGCUAthletics) and YouTube (/FGCUAthletics).
 
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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 visitwww.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.