FORT MYERS, Fla. – Celebrating another banner semester in the classroom, the FGCU Department of Athletics celebrated a record 76 individual student-athletes, several superlative teams, and this year's recipient of the Academic Special Recognition Award at the recently held 12^th Annual Hillmyer-Tremont Foundation Athletics Academic Honors Ceremony.
 
"Despite the pandemic requiring us to go virtual, this annual ceremony remains a highlight event as it provides us the opportunity to revel in the tremendous collective results these wonderful scholar-athletes achieve in the classroom. They not only recognize and embrace the importance of their academic endeavors to achieve long-term goals and success, but their serving as leaders in spearheading our overall Green & Blue commitment to excellence in all we do" said Director of Athletics Ken Kavanagh.
 
The 76 individuals who were honored have maintained a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.5-or-better for at least two terms while at FGCU. Overall, 161 student-athletes had a 3.5 GPA last fall, while 50 had a perfect 4.0 GPA.
 
FGCU student-athletes earned a collective 3.5 GPA following the fall semester (3.42 cumulative) which marked the 23^rd consecutive semester to surpass the overall student body (3.15 fall semester and 3.13 cumulative).
 
"As a department, we are always extremely proud of what our student-athletes accomplish each semester – but no more so than during the past fall, as they had to navigate the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, a modified education model, and the changes to their competition schedules," said Associate Athletics Director/Director of the Hartley Academic Resource Center Kelly Jean Brock. "We also thank our tremendous network of campus partners who encourage, support and challenge our student-athletes which is vital to their success."
 
With remarks from FGCU President Dr. Michael V. Martin and emceed by Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Tom Roberts, the luncheon was held virtually over Zoom. Despite being done remotely, each of the 76 student-athletes was personally recognized for their success.
 
Women's soccer senior Zoey Spitzer (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) spoke on behalf of the scholar-athletes. Spitzer's remarks centered on how hard it can be to work at becoming both a high-level student and athlete. She shared her personal journey of how she has battled self-doubt but chose to focus on how her trials and tribulations bring with them joy and pride when overcome – that through sport, the ability to achieve goals and build self-confidence is intertwined with being the best student one can be.
 
Brock presented team awards for both the Spring 2020 semester and the fall 2020 semester, as the honor for the spring teams was delayed due to the effects of the pandemic.
 
Spring 2020 Team Superlatives:
Highest Team Sport GPA: Women's Soccer (3.71)
Highest Individual Sport GPA: Women's Tennis (3.80)
Most Improved Team Sport GPA (Fall '19-Spring '20): Women's Soccer (+.26)
Most Improved Individual Sport GPA (Fall '19-Spring '20): Women's Cross Country (+.38)
 
Fall 2020 Team Superlatives:
Highest Team Sport GPA: Women's Soccer (3.77)
Highest Individual Sport GPA: Women's Tennis (3.77)
Most Improved Team Sport GPA (Fall '19-Spring '20): Beach Volleyball (+.06), Women's Soccer (+.06)
Most Improved Individual Sport GPA (Fall '19-Spring '20): Men's Tennis (+.33)
 
The final honor was the Academic Special Recognition Award. Presented annually to individuals who have distinguished themselves by providing a superior level of service and support to FGCU student-athletes in their pursuit of academic and athletic success, it was bestowed upon the University Advising Services. Assistant Vice President for University Advising Marisa Ouversen accepted on behalf of the staff.   "On behalf of the UAS, we thank the Athletics Department and the student-athletes for this honor and recognition," said Ouversen. "We have been working hard and intentionally to serve our students so that they feel engaged and cared for in this challenging environment. To be honored for that work and to know it's having an impact is truly a wonderful, feel-good moment for us."
 
 
 
Fall 2020 Academic Honorees (3.5 Cumulative GPA, 2+ Semesters)

Name	Class	Major	Sport	Hometown
Gus Carter	Senior	Management	Baseball	Melbourne, Florida
Marc Coffers	Senior	Entrepreneurship	Baseball	Naples, Florida
Brian Ellis	Senior	Health Science	Baseball	Oviedo, Florida
Johnny Long	Sophomore	Biology	Baseball	Naples, Florida
Hunter McGarry	Graduate	Masters Educational Leadership	Baseball	Bradenton, Florida
Caleb Catto	Junior	Integrated Studies	Men's Basketball	Cape Coral, Florida
Sam Gagliardi	Senior	Integrated Studies	Men's Basketball	Gig Harbor, Washington
Kierra Adams	Sophomore	Resort & Hospitality Management	Women's Basketball	Lawrenceville, Georgia
Alyssa Blair	Graduate	Masters Business Administration	Women's Basketball	Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
Tanner Bryant	Junior	Biology	Women's Basketball	Washington Court House, Ohio
Tyra Cox	Graduate	Masters Business Administration	Women's Basketball	Orlando, Florida
Emma List	Graduate	Masters Educational Leadership	Women's Basketball	Colorado Springs, Colorado
Jenna Banz	Senior	Psychology	Beach Volleyball	Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Giovanna Borgiotti	Graduate	Masters Health Science	Beach Volleyball	Vienna, Virginia
Camryn Bossinas	Junior	Forensic Science	Beach Volleyball	Roswell, Georgia
Maddison Parmelly	Sophomore	Psychology	Beach Volleyball	Rockwall, Texas
Elizabeth Richmond	Sophomore	Legal Studies	Beach Volleyball	Oakville, Ontario, Canada
Kayla Whetstone	Senior	Economics	Beach Volleyball	Arlington, Texas
Ben Hermiston	Sophomore	Finance	Men's Cross Country	Sherrill, Iowa
Gianna Citarella	Sophomore	Forensic Studies	Women's Cross Country	Manahawkin, New Jersey
Julia Filip	Junior	Biochemistry	Women's Cross Country	Owasso, Oklahoma
Emily O'Connor	Junior	Exercise Science	Women's Cross Country	Twinsburg, Ohio
Mark Iwinski Jr.	Senior	Finance	Men's Golf	Fort Myers, Florida
Sadie Chlapowski	Senior	Psychology	Women's Golf	St. Petersburg, Florida
Ailsa  Clark	Senior	Exercise Science & Psychology	Women's Golf	Navarre, Florida
Sarah Edwards	Sophomore	Marketing	Women's Golf	Jay, Florida
Chandler Ryan	Graduate	Masters Public Administration	Women's Golf	Groveland, Illinois
Haley Yerxa	Junior	Software Engineering	Women's Golf	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Ethan Dudley	Junior	Communication	Men's Soccer	St. Johns, Florida
Connor  Gavigan	Graduate	Psychology	Men's Soccer	Aurora, Colorado
Parker Holland	Senior	Health Science	Men's Soccer	Winter Garden, Florida
Aiden Jokomba	Sophomore	Public Health	Men's Soccer	Anchovy St. James, Jamaica
Alyssa Abbondandolo	Junior	Integrated Studies	Women's Soccer	Cape Coral, Florida
Ashlee Brentlinger	Junior	Biology	Women's Soccer	Middletown, Delaware
Amanda Crisalli	Sophomore	Nursing	Women's Soccer	High Springs, Florida
Kavina Ganeshan	Senior	Biology	Women's Soccer	Pickering, Ontario, Canada
Meagan Gruber	Graduate	Masters Health Science	Women's Soccer	Long Beach, California
Kara Kyramarios	Junior	Nursing	Women's Soccer	Titusville, Florida
Emily McCue	Sophomore	Software Engineering	Women's Soccer	Victoria, British Colombia, Canada
Lander Peck	Sophomore	Digital Media Design	Women's Soccer	Sanibel, Florida
Zoey Reed-Spitzer	Senior	Economics	Women's Soccer	Naples, Florida
Leah Scarpelli	Sophomore	Integrated Studies	Women's Soccer	Brick, New Jersey
Kailyn Sheehan	Sophomore	Health Administration	Women's Soccer	Cary, Illinois
Hope Van Wagner	Graduate	Special Education	Women's Soccer	Avon, Indiana
Alison Wessel	Sophomore	Exercise Science	Women's Soccer	St. Charles, Illinois
McKenna Batterton	Junior	Biology	Softball	Norco, California
Taylor Bauman	Senior	Exercise Science	Softball	Jacksonville, Florida
Farley Callaghan	Senior	Elementary Education	Softball	Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Reedy Davenport	Junior	Nursing	Softball	St. Johns, Florida
Ashley  Hayes	Junior	Nursing	Softball	Naples, Florida
Madison Johnson	Senior	Communication	Softball	Lake Wales, Florida
Sarah Lawton	Senior	Criminal Justice	Softball	Waterbury, Connecticut
Hannah Shemansky	Sophomore	Psychology	Softball	Lakeland, Florida
Abigail Thomas	Sophomore	Health Science	Softball	Fort Myers, Florida
Wiktoria Czarnecka	Junior	Psychology	Swimming & Diving	Lublin, Poland
Anna Hogan	Sophomore	Exercise Science	Swimming & Diving	Louisville, Kentucky
Hailey Jerew	Sophomore	Environmental Geology	Swimming & Diving	Miami, Florida
Isabeau Keene	Sophomore	Biology	Swimming & Diving	Demorest, Georgia
Joely  Merriman	Junior	Exercise Science	Swimming & Diving	Shawnee, Kansas
Delaney Nelson	Sophomore	Nursing	Swimming & Diving	Cincinnati, Ohio
Kaja Reinhardt	Sophomore	Environmental Engineering	Swimming & Diving	Herdecke, Germany
Meghan Schienvar	Junior	Health Science	Swimming & Diving	Holmdel, New Jersey
Michaela Sizemore	Sophomore	Biology	Swimming & Diving	Fredericksburg, Virginia
Lucija Sulenta	Sophomore	Health Science	Swimming & Diving	Zagreb, Croatia
Hannah VanDress	Sophomore	Exercise Science	Swimming & Diving	Cape Coral, Florida
Juan Lopez	Sophomore	Management	Men's Tennis	Gachancipa, Colombia
Ida Ferding	Sophomore	Environmental Engineering	Women's Tennis	Vasteras, Sweden
Maja  Ornberg	Senior	Psychology	Women's Tennis	Kil, Sweden
Sofia Perez	Senior	Management	Women's Tennis	Alajuela, Costa Rica
Lourdes  Ramalle	Senior	Civil Engineering	Women's Tennis	Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dana Axner	Junior	Secondary Mathematics Education	Volleyball	Dublin, Ohio
Sonora Burnam	Senior	Integrated Studies	Volleyball	Palm City, Florida
Chelsey Lockey	Junior	Social Work	Volleyball	Eaton, Colorado
Alayna  Ryan	Senior	Biochemistry	Volleyball	Fort Myers, Florida
Erin Shomaker	Sophomore	Health Science	Volleyball	Granville, Ohio
Cortney VanLiew	Senior	Accounting	Volleyball	Seymour, Indiana

 
 

Hillmyer-Tremont Academic Special Recognition Award
Year	Recipient	Position
2021	University Advising Services	FGCU Staff
2020	David Deiros	Head Softball Coach
2019	Marc Laviolette	Director of Admissions
2018	Mike & Karen Hartley	Benefactors
2017	Dr. Ludmilla "Millie" Wells	Faculty Athletics Representative
2016	Allison Bacigalupi	Director of Academic Advising
2015	Jorge Lopez	Asst VP for Student Financial Services
2014	Sam & Carol Crimaldi	Benefactors
2013	Dr. Jim Wohlpart	Director of Undergraduate Studies
2012	Dr. Cecil Carter	Faculty Athletics Representative
2011	Hillmyer-Tremont Foundation Board	Benefactors
2010	Bernie & Elaine Lester	Benefactors

 
 
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IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
 
#FEEDFGCU
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 83 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 13 plus seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just nine plus seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 38 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including women's basketball (No. 24, 2019-20) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as three 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 (APR) in their sport and have had the highest percentage of teams so honored from these two groups over each of the past three years. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.5 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 23 consecutive semesters. The 2019 Fall, 2020 Spring and 2020 Fall semesters each saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA. 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.
 
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