FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU Department of Athletics has announced its fifth pair of 2019-20 monthly academic honorees. Women's basketball redshirt senior Keri Jewett-Giles and men's basketball sophomore Caleb Catto were named Scholar-Athletes of the Month for December.

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 include a combination of significant athletic and overall academic success.

Jewett-Giles (Fort Myers, Fla./Dunbar HS) graduated last Spring semester with a 3.46 GPA as she earned her undergraduate degree in Child & Youth Studies. She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Educational Leadership and carries a 3.9 GPA. During her time here with the Green and Blue, the Fort Myers native has landed a spot on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll five times, while claiming a spot on the Dean's and President's List.

The Dunbar High School product is averaging 16.1 points per game, dishing out a team-best 4.1 assists per contest and snagging nearly four boards each night. Jewett-Giles has started each of the 18 games for the No. 25th-ranked Eagles this season. Last December versus LSU at home, she dropped a season-high 35 points, just one shy of tying her career best.

"What Keri has been doing on the floor for us this year and in the classroom is really great to see," said head coach Karl Smesko. "She is someone that takes her studies very seriously and has been doing a great job in her graduate program."

Catto (Cape, Coral, Fla./Southwest Florida Christian Academy) is an Integrated Studies major with a 3.48 GPA. He's a three-time Athletic Director's Honor Roll member and a Dean's List recipient.

This season for the Green and Blue, Catto has notched a start in all 19 games, averaging 10.9 points and 4.9 boards per game. Against conference foe Stetson Saturday afternoon, Catto dropped a career-high 19 points to lead the Eagles past the Hatters 66-62 on the road in overtime.

"It's great that Caleb was honored for this award," said head coach Michael Fly. "He's a terrific example of a student-athlete in how he strives to be the best in everything he does. I'm proud of him for earning this honor as it's a reflection of the work and effort he gives every day."

2019-20 Scholar-Athletes of the Month
August – Dana Axner (Volleyball) and Jahan Rajaee (Men's Soccer)
September – Evdokia Popadinova (Women's Soccer) and Marcelo Tebet (Men's Tennis)
October – Lindsey Patton (Women's Soccer) and Kareem Riley (Men's Soccer)
November – Cortney VanLiew (Volleyball) and TC Anderson (Men's Soccer)
December – Keri Jewett-Giles (Women's Basketball) and Caleb Catto (Men's Basketball)

ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 80 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 13 seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just nine 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 soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as two of the most recent. 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.
 
--FGCUATHLETICS.COM--