April 21, 2011
SAN DIEGO - A San Diego State athletic department record 256 scholar-athletes were honored Monday evening at the 17th Annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet held at the Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center on campus.
The 256 student-athletes possessing a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average or recording a 3.0 semester GPA eclipsed the previous record of 246 set in 2009. This is the sixth consecutive year in which the student-athlete total has increased.
Miles Burris, a senior linebacker on the football team from Granite Bay, Calif., and Sarah Brady, a senior driver on the water polo team from Los Alamitos, Calif., were each named Student-Athletes of the Year for demonstrating excellence in academics, athletics and leadership, while boasting outstanding character.
Burris led the Mountain West Conference in sacks and tackles for loss and is the team's top returning tackler. He received the football team's President's Award for Highest Standards of Academic & Athletic Excellence in 2008, and is also a three-time MWC all-academic honoree. A management major, he has played in 37 consecutive contests entering the 2011campaign.
Brady has appeared in all 67 contests over the last two seasons for the Aztecs. She has 36 goals and 37 steals in 2011, while leading the team in assists with 61, highlighted by her game-high seven against Cal in April.
The Malik Award was presented to 12 student-athletes who achieved the highest grade-point averages in a semester. The honor is named after Dr. James Malik who is a San Diego State professor emeritus of Chemistry.
This year's Malik Award recipients who all achieved perfect 4.0 semester GPAs included junior Julianne Alarcio (track and field), senior Marie Brown (track and field), junior Leanne Ford (water polo), sophomore Marisa Fraticelli (women's soccer), senior Logan Ketchum (football), freshman Monique Martinez (cross-country), junior D.J. Shields (football), sophomore Kayla McKenna (crew). Karoline Koehler (track and field), Petra Cole (women's golf) and Leigh Rutherford (cross country) who graduated last year were also winners of the Malik Award.
The Montezuma Cup, presented annually to the team that develops life skills and competencies while enhancing collective team unity by working together to achieve the maximum possible points, was won by the softball team. The Aztec men's tennis, women's tennis and volleyball squads each received the Faculty Athletics Representative Award for having the highest team semester GPAs and former softball player Brittany Knudsen picked up the Helping Hand Award for her service to the University as a tutor or mentor.
Dr. Stephen L. Weber was also presented with the Distinguished Service Award for his work at San Diego State and his commitment to Aztec Athletics. Weber, who came to SDSU in 1996, has announced that he will be retiring this July, ending his 15-year tenure as the school's president.
17th Annual San Diego State Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet
Malik Award Recipients (highest semester GPAs)
Kayla McKenna, CrewMonique Martinez, Cross CountryLeigh Rutherford, TrackLogan Ketchum, FootballD.J. Shields, FootballJulianne Alarcio, TrackMarie Brown, TrackLeanne Ford, Water PoloPetra Cole, Women's GolfMarisa Fraticelli, Women's SoccerMatthew Tosches, Men's Tennis
Student-Athlete of the Year AwardMiles Burris, FootballSarah Brady, Water Polo
Distinguished Service AwardUniversity President Stephen Weber
Helping Hand AwardBrittany Knudsen, Softball
Faculty Athletics Representative Award (Highest Team Semester GPA)Men's Tennis (Spring 2010, Fall 2010)Volleyball (Spring 2010)Women's Tennis (Fall 2010)