FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU Department of Athletics has announced its first pair of 2019-20 monthly academic honorees. Volleyball's Dana Axner and men's soccer Jahan Rajaee were named Scholar-Athletes of the Month for August.

A female and male Eagle are chosen as the FGCU Athletics Scholar-Athlete of the Month throughout the academic year. Factors in the selection for this honor is based on a combination of significant athletic and overall academic success.

Axner (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS) holds a 3.95 GPA while majoring in Secondary Mathematics. She registered a perfect 4.0 GPA last spring term, earning her a spot on the President's List.

On the court so far for the Eagles, Axner has helped lead FGCU to a program-best 6-0 start. She's recorded 109 digs thus far which ranks 64th in the country and has paired that with 27 assists. The sophomore libero was named the ASUN Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 3 after her 69 total digs during the Homewood Suites Fort Myers Classic led her to be named the tournament's MVP.

"Dana has gotten off to another great start this season and is making her presence felt out on the court," said head coach Matt Botsford. "She is really growing up as a player and as good as she is, she wants to become better. That attitude is one of her greatest attributes and why she is just scratching the surface as to what she can become as a player. She continues to maintain a similar level of focus on her academics. Dana balances the two areas extremely well and is a great model of how to do so effectively and efficiently."

Rajaee (Gainesville, Fla./F.W. Buchholz HS) carries a 3.72 GPA and is majoring in Environmental Engineering. He's landed a spot on the President's List while being a five-time Dean's List honoree. On the field for the Eagles this season, the senior has started three of four games in the midfield and netted his first career goal last Sunday against Georgia Southern.

"Jahan's attitude, work ethic, and character shines through every day," said head coach Jesse Cormier. "He has really high standards for his performance in the classroom and on the field. He's been a big part of what we've done so far to start the season and I'm enjoying his progression every day not only as student-athlete but overall as a person too."

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FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April 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.

ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 78 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 12 seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just eight seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 36 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including both men's and women's soccer again in 2018. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the spring 2018 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for twenty consecutive semesters.  The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.