April 30, 2014
Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet Gallery
SAN DIEGO - A San Diego State athletic department record 317 scholar-athletes were honored on Monday, April 28, at the 20th Annual Scholar-Athlete Banquet on campus. This is the ninth-consecutive year the scholar-athlete total has increased.
Junior baseball outfielder Greg Allen (San Diego, Calif.) and senior swimmer Mikaela Macklin (Placerville, Calif.) were each named 2014 Student-Athletes of the Year for demonstrating excellence in academics, athletics and leadership, while boasting outstanding character.
Allen, a Business Management major with a 3.52 cumulative Grade Point Average, is a five-time scholar-athlete and former Malik Award winner. He is a two-time Mountain West Academic all-conference selection and MW Scholar-Athlete, and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. In addition, Allen is a two-time winner of the prestigious Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars Award, which honors undergraduate students of color who exemplify the standards set by former tennis great Arthur Ashe Jr. On the field, the San Diego native was named to the 2014 Baseball Preseason All-America Team, as he's currently third on the team in batting average (.322), second in runs scored (39), third in hits (56) and leads the team with 22 stolen bases. In addition, Allen was named to the NCAA Regional all-Tournament team at the conclusion of last season.
Macklin majors in journalism with an emphasis in public relations, has a 3.74 GPA and has been named to the Dean's List six times and received Scholar-Athlete recognition in each of her semesters at SDSU. The senior has been honored as a MW Scholar-Athlete and a member of the MW all-Academic Team in each of her years, and received the Most Outstanding Student award in the Journalism and Media Studies Department. In the pool, Macklin received NCAA All-American honors and won the MW Senior Recognition Award as part of the 800-meter freestyle relay championship team that set the MW meet record. Macklin was named the 2013 MW Swimmer of the Year, and qualified for the NCAA Championships in three events. She also holds numerous school records in the 200 individual medley, 400IM, 200 breaststroke and 800 free relay.
In addition, the Malik Award was presented to 13 student-athletes who achieved the highest GPAs in a semester. The award is named after Dr. James Malik, who is a San Diego State professor emeritus of chemistry.
This year's Malik Award recipients include Megan Allaire (women's soccer), Kelsey Bean (swimming), Jake Bernards (football), Maureen Dunnagan (women's golf), Anthony Gooch (men's soccer), Kristi Jackels (volleyball), Gemma Johnson (swimming), Freja Liljedahl (track and field), Jennifer Miller (Rowing), Morgan Sacco (men's soccer), D.J. Shields (football), Katie Thralls (track and field) and Courtney Vaccarello (volleyball).
The Aztec women's tennis (3.34 GPA) and men's soccer (3.10) teams won the team GPA Awards for the spring of 2013, while women's tennis (3.26) and men's tennis (3.12) teams won for fall 2013. Additionally, Dr. Stuart Henry, professor of Criminal Justice and Director of the School of Public Affairs, was presented the Dr. James Kitchen Distinguished Service Award.
20th Annual San Diego State Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet
Malik Award Recipients (highest semester GPAs)
Megan Allaire (women's soccer)
Kelsey Bean (swimming)
Jake Bernards (football)
Maureen Dunnagan (women's golf)
Anthony Gooch (men's soccer)
Kristi Jackels (volleyball)
Gemma Johnson (swimming)
Freja Liljedahl (track and field)
Jennifer Miller (Rowing)
Morgan Sacco (men's soccer)
DJ Shields (football), Katie Thralls (track and field)
Courtney Vaccarello (volleyball)
Student Athlete of the Year Award
Greg Allen, baseball
Mikaela Macklin, swimming
Distinguished Service Award
Dr. Stuart Henry, professor of Criminal Justice and Director of the School of Public Affairs
Team GPA Award winners
Women's Tennis (spring 2013, fall 2013)
Men's Soccer (fall 2013)
Men's Tennis (spring 2013)