April 23, 2013
SAN DIEGO - A San Diego State athletic department record 305 scholar-athletes and athletic training students were honored on Monday evening at the 19th Annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet on campus. This is the eighth-consecutive year the student-athlete total has increased.
D.J. Shields, a senior tight end on the football team from Bonita, Calif., and Andrea Hannasch, a senior middle blocker on the Volleyball team from New Braunfels, Texas, were each named 2013 Student-Athletes of the Year for demonstrating excellence in academics, athletics and leadership, while boasting outstanding character.
Shields, a civil engineering major, finished the fall semester with a 3.87 grade-point-average, which was the highest on the team. The senior caught six passes for 56 yards and a touchdown last season, appearing in all 12 games and making four starts. The senior also won the Presidents Award for high academic achievement at the football team awards banquet in the fall.
Hannasch, a mathematics major with minors in physics and computer science, had a cumulative 3.82 GPA in the fall semester. The senior was named to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America Women's Volleyball second team, received honorable mention All-America honors from the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), and was named to the AVCA All-West Region team. Hannasch ranked among the top 10 in the Mountain West in hitting percentage, blocks and points this past season. She also ended her time at San Diego State second on the career list in block assists, and was a three-time all-Mountain West selection.
The Malik Award was presented to 11 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 include senior Alicia Aguilar (women's tennis), Julianne Alarcio (track and field), Roxanne Ellison (women's tennis), Sierra Ellison (women's tennis), Leanne Ford (water polo), sophomore Sarah Haydock (track and field), junior Kelsie Jarratt (track and field), senior Thoraya Maronsey (track and field), junior Monique Martinez (cross country/track and field), junior Isabelle Pickett (lacrosse) and senior D.J. Shields (football).
The Aztec men's tennis (2.98) and women's tennis (3.32) teams won the High GPA Awards in the fall, while the men's soccer (2.87) and women's tennis (3.43) squads took the High GPA Awards for the spring. In addition, Sally Roush, Vice President of Business Affairs, won the Dr. James Kitchen Award for Distinguished Service.
19th Annual San diego State Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet
Malik Award recipients (highest semester GPAs)
Alicia Aguilar, Women's Tennis
Julianne Alarcio, Track
Roxanne Ellison, Women's Tennis
Sierra Ellison, Women's Tennis
Leanne Ford, Water Polo
Sarah Haydock, Track
Kelsie Jarratt, Track
Thoraya Maronsey, Track
Monique Martinez, Cross Country/Track
Isabelle Pickett, Lacrosse
D.J. Shields, Football
Student-Athlete of the Year Award
Andrea Hannasch, Volleyball
D.J. Shields, Football
Dr. James Kitchen Distinguished Service Award
Sally Roush, Vice President of Business Affairs