SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- Slippery Rock University Director of Athletics Paul Lueken proudly announced Thursday 179 Rock student-athletes attained Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference "Scholar-Athlete" status during the 2009-10 academic year.

The Rock, with a 44% success rate, ranked second among the 16 PSAC institutions in the percentage of student-athletes who had at least a 3.25 grade point average at the conclusion of the school year. SRU was third in the conference in the total number of student-athletes honored.

"It is a tribute to our student-athletes, coaches, athletic administrators and all SRU faculty and staff that almost half of our student-athletes earned Scholar-Athlete honors last year," Lueken said. "This validates our efforts to make sure our student-athletes are successful in the classroom as well as in athletic competition."

The total number of student-athletes who earned PSAC Scholar-Athlete status in 2009-10 is the second highest in school history behind an all-time-high total of 181 in the 2007-08 academic year.

The Rock, which has the ninth highest total number of student-athletes in the conference, had the second highest number of PSAC female student-athletes and third best total of male student-athletes honored in 2009-10.

Each of The Rock's 17 NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletic programs had at least one of its student-athletes named as a PSAC Scholar-Athlete. The women's track and field program led the way with 40 student-athletes honored, followed by the women's cross country program with 21, men's track and field program with 20, football with 19, women's soccer 17, women's volleyball 15, women's field hockey 14 and women's softball 11.

Heading the list of Rock student-athletes who attained PSAC Scholar-Athlete status were four individuals who had previously been named as ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® perfomers as well as recipients of a PSAC Top Ten Award. That quartet included first-team Academic All-America® selection Jen Hansen, a women's track and field pole vaulter, and third-team selections  Shardea Croes (softball), Jeremy Deighton (men's soccer) and Jen Harpp (women's cross country/track and field).

Deighton was also the runner-up in the voting for the male winner of the Pete Nevins Award presented to the top student-athlete in the PSAC. He is the conference's nominee for the Division II Commissioners Association's national Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor.

Hansen, the 2007-08 female recipient of the Nevins Award, was the runner-up in this year's competition.

The following is a complete list of Rock student-athletes who attained PSAC Scholar-Athlete status in the 2009-10 academic year. Student-athletes are listed in alphabetical order with their sport, major and hometown/high school.

Erica Aldrich (WT&F/CC), Elementary Education, Aurora, Ohio/Aurora; Marissa Anderson (WSoc), Exercise Science/Physical Therapy, Allison Park/Hampton; Matt Antis (MT&F), Health & Physical Education, Indiana/Indiana; Kasey Arena (WT&F), Health & Physical Education, Pittsburgh/North Hills; Lexi Arnold (VB/T&F), Health & Physical Education, Newburg/Chambersburg; Samantha Badaczewski (FH), Health & Safety, Susquehanna Township/Susquehanna; #C.J. Bahr# (FB), Sport Management, Boalsburg/State College; Lisa Bakaitis (VB), Health & Physical Education, Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon Lake; Marissa Balmert (VB), Exercise Science, North Huntingdon/Norwin; Ben Barnes (Base), Athletic Training, Williamson, N.Y./Williamson; Alyssa Barrett (WSoc), Communications, Rochester, N.Y./Penfield; Alex Beatty (WBK), Business, Woodstock Ont./Woodstock Collegiate Institute; Lauren Beeker (FH), Exercise Science, Hampstead, Md./North Carroll; Laura Berry (WT&F), Sport Management, Raleigh,N.C./Needham Broughton; Alli Bird (WSoc), Athletic Training, Stroudsburg/Stroudsburg; Anna Bixler (VB), Elementary/Early Childhood Education, Irwin/Penn-Trafford; Kyle Botten (MT&F/CC), Exercise Science/Physical Therapy, Murrysville/Franklin Regional; Kirsten Brant (Soft), Biology, Butler/Butler; Skylar Brosse (FH) Health & Physical Education York/Central York; Jade Burka (MBK) Public Relations Butler/Knoch; Lyndsay Burneisen (WBK), Health & Physical Education, Cranberry/Cranberry; Crystal Burnick (WT&F/CC), Exercise Science, Collegeville/Methacton; Jill Byers (WT&F), Exercise Science, Collegeville/Methacton;

Mason Calhoun (MT&F/CC), Exercise Science/Physical Therapy, Aliquippa/Hopewell; Mike Carnahan (FB), Criminal Justice, Hubbard, Ohio/Hubbard; Cassie Carrow (WT&F), Exercise Science, Bovard/Hempfield; Jess Cartwright (FH), Exploratory, Harrisburg/Central Dauphin; Bethany Caudill (WBK), Community Health, Sandusky, Ohio/Sandusky; Alexis Chiani (WSoc), Social Work, Oakridge, N.J./Jefferson Township; Karen Citroen (FH), Communications, Nieuwegein, Netherlands/Ann Van Rijn College; Stephanie Clark (WT&F/CC), Journalism, McDonald/Fort Cherry; Anna Coffman (VB), Health & Physical Education, Scottsdale/ Southmoreland; Rebecca Coleman (FH), Communications, Elma, N.Y./Iroquois Central; Shardea Croes (Soft), Exercise Science, San Nicolas, Aruba/Colegio Arubano; Cameron Daugherty (MT&F), Criminal Justice, Mililani, Hawaii/Mililani; Jeremy Deighton (MSoc), Marketing, Broadview Heights, Ohio/St. Ignatius; Stacey Domer (VB), Health & Physical Education, Connellsville/Connellsville; Shane Duda (MT&F/CC), Biology, Erie/Seneca; Sally Dugas (WT&F/CC), Business Marketing, Slovan/Burgettstown; Jessica Ellebruch (Soft), Athletic Training, Wadsworth, Ohio/Wadsworth; Bill Elliott (FB), Health & Physical Education, Sarver/Knoch; Teresa Elliott (FH), Athletic Training, Fredricksburg, Va./Chancellor; Alexa Erossy (VB), Exercise Science, Rocky River, Ohio/Rocky River;

Austin Fedell (FB), Undecided, Wexford/North Allegheny; Kelsi Fisher (WSoc), Exercise Science, North Olmsted, Ohio/ North Olmsted; Jordan Frank (FB) Athletic Training/ Exercise Science Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon Lake; Josh Gardner (FB), Exercise Science, Greensburg/Hempfield; Ethan Geisler (MT&F), Business, Prospect/Slippery Rock; Ariel Gilbert (WSoc), Health & Physical Education, Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central; Rick Gladd (FB), Health & Physical Education, Butler/Butler; Devin Goda (FB), Safety/Environmental Management, Monogahela/Elizabeth Forward; Kim Goth (WT&F), Athletic Training, New Bethlehem/Redbank Valley; Katelyn Griffin (WBK), Secondary Education/English, Plum/Plum; Emily Gusew (WT&F/CC), Athletic Training, Pittsburgh/Northgate; Amy Halls (Lax), Business & Marketing, Westerville, Ohio/Olentangy; Jade Hambrick (WT&F), Criminology/Criminal Justice, Pittsburgh/North Allegheny; Caitlin Hancox (WT&F/CC), Exercise Science, Meadville/Meadville; Jen Hansen (WT&F), Special Education, Charleston, W. Va./Capital; Jen Harpp (WT&F/CC), Physical Therapy, Highland Heights, Ohio/Mayfield; Allie Hartman (FH), Exercise Science, New Cumberland/Red Land; Jordan Hausladen (FH), Athletic Training, Lockport, N.Y./Starpoint; Alex Heller (VB), Exercise Science, Clarion/Clarion Area; Rachel Henderson (Soft), Physics, Upper St. Clair/Upper St. Clair; Brian Henion (FB), Safety/Environmental Management, Oley/Reading Central Catholic; Skylar Hoffman (WT&F), Exercise Science, Shinglehouse/Wellsville; #A.J. Hopp# (FB), Exploratory, Akron, Ohio/Archbishop Hoban; Juliana Howell (WSoc), Elementary/Early Childhood Education, Clearfield/Clearfield; Julia Hubbard (WT&F/CC), Elementary/Special Education, Gibsonia/Pine Richland;

Shaylee Ianno (Soft), Criminology, McMurray/Peters Township; Ethan Isoldi (MT&F/CC), Business Marketing, Mercer/Mercer; Jason Jamieson (MT&F), Criminology, Carlton/Cochranton; Brittany Jones (Soft), Athletic Training, Houston/Chartiers-Houston; Scott Kachurik ((FB), Health & Safety, Plum/Plum; Izzy Kelbley (VB), Psychology, Tiffin, Ohio/Calvert; Joseph Kelly (MT&F), Exercise Science, Erie/McDowell; Jacquelyn Kerr (WT&F), Exercise Science/Physical Therapy, Titusville/Titusville; Dana Kiger (WSoc), Exercise Science, Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain; Rachel Knapp (WSoc/T&F), History, Milton/Milton; Alex Koksal (MT&F), Exercise Science, Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster; Janelle Krantz (Ten), Athletic Training, Quarryville/Solanco; Alee Kromer (VB), Health & Physical Education, Punxsutawney/Punxsutawney; Mitchell Kudlawiec (FB), Safety & Environmental Management, Portage/Central Cambria; Sarah Lacy (WSoc), Psychology, Lock Haven/Central Mountain; Joby Lapkowicz (Base), Physics/ Pre-engineering, Carmichaels/ Carmichaels; Shelby Layman (WSoc), Business Marketing, Hagerstown, Md./Smithsburg; Kara Lazauskas (WBK), Exercise Science, Neshanic Station, N.J./Somerville; Caitlin Lombardo (WT&F), Undecided, New Castle/Shenango; McHenze Long (FH), Health & Physical Education, Spring Grove/Spring Grove; Brittany Lyons (WT&F/CC), Exercise Science, Slippery Rock/Slippery Rock:

Candice Mack (Lax), Special Education, Mahopac, N.Y./Mahopac; Ashley Macurdy (Lax), Elementary Education/Early Childhood Development, Butler/Butler; Gabrielle Malishchak (FH), Education, Wanamie/Greater Nanticoke Area; Nikki Maloney (WT&F), Psychology, Butler/Butler; Christian McChesney (MSoc), Health & Safety, Butler/Butler; Colin McCoy (Base), Medical Technology, Rayland, Ohio/Buckeye Local; Tayler McCracken (WT&F), Elementary/Special Education, Fairview/Fairview; Melissa McCutcheon (Ten), Biology, Franklin/Rocky Grove; Hannah McShea (VB), Exercise Science, Marysville, Ohio/Marysville; Jami Meirick (Lax), Undeclared, Pasadena, Md./Northeast; Jimmy Meyer (Base), Sports Management, Bethel Park/Bethel Park; Abby Michaelian (WT&F/CC), Exercise Science/Physical Therapy, Mechanicsburg/Cedar Cliff; Amanda Mikatavage (WBK), Undecided, Reading/Muhlenberg; Jenna Miller (WSoc), Exercise Science, Strongsville, Ohio/Strongsville; Mitchell Monas (Base), Criminal Justice, Waynesburg/Waynesburg; Cinnamon Monteville (Soft), Undeclared, Brockway/Brockway; Erin Moran (FH), Special/Elementary Education, Plymouth/Wyoming Valley West; Danielle Mostachetti (WT&F/CC), Health & Physical Education, Wexford/North Allegheny; Aaron Moul (FB), Emerging Technology & Multimedia, Manhiem/Hempfield; Kassandra Nageotte (WT&F/CC), Exercise Science, Huron, Ohio/Huron; Aaron Nall (FB), Safety/Environmental Management, Independence, Ohio/Independence; Bill Nguyen (MT&F), Health & Physical Education, Pittsburgh/Baldwin;

Sarah Olesky (WT&F/CC), Exercise Science, Pittsburgh/Seton-La Salle; Dana O'Neill (WSoc), Exercise Science, Leonardtown, Md./Leonardtown; Andrew O'Saben (FB), Undeclared, Mineral Point/Central Cambria; Jake Oswalt (Base), Sport Management, South Fork/Forest Hills; Anthony Paganie (MSoc), Health & Physical Education, Ambridge/Ambridge; Jeff Patterson (MT&F), Criminology, Commodore/Purchase Line; Joel Peters (MT&F), Finance, Athens, Ga./Clarion; Samantha Pfister (Soft), Exercise Science, Spring Mount/Perkiomen Valley; Andrew Pianetti (FB), Forensic Science, Murrysville/Franklin Regional; Adam Picard (MSoc), Undeclared, Gibsonia/Pine Richland; Liana Pittman (FH), Secondary Education, Newburg/Shippensburg Area; Mara Polnar (WT&F/CC), Health & Physical Education, Monroeville/Gateway; Nikki Presto (WBK), Health & Physical Education, Pittsburgh/Thomas Jefferson; Ashley Ranck (WT&F/CC), Creative Writing/Journalism, Stevens/Garden Spot; Nathan Randall (MT&F), Exercise Science, Titusville/Titusville; Pat Reagan (MT&F), Exercise Science, Masontown/Albert Gallatin; Sarah Reppermund (WT&F), Physical Therapy, Saxonburg/Knoch; Erika Richardson (WT&F/CC), Elementary Education, Rayland, Ohio/Buckeye Local; Casey Runyan (Ten), Health & Physical Education, Hermitage/Hickory;

Gary Satterwhite (MBK), Accounting, Farrell/Kennedy Catholic; Brittney Schaefer (WT&F), Exercise Science, St. Marys/St. Marys; Cassidy Schemm (Lax), Health & Physical Education, McMurray/Peters Township; Jimmy Schneider (MT&F), Health & Physical Education, New Wilmington/Wilmington; Angela Schroeder (WT&F), Special/Early Elementary Education, Pittsburgh/Baldwin; Brittany Schultz (FH), Health & Physical Education, Poway, Calif./Poway; SayQuan Scott-Mitchell (FB), Information Technology, Harrisburg/Central Dauphin East; Amanda Seigworth (WT&F), Biochemistry/Forensic Chemistry, Cranesville/Northwestern; Jenny Senko (WT&F/CC), Americans with Disabilities, Seneca/Cranberry; Jordan Settimio (WSoc), Exercise Science, McMurray/Peters Township; Melisa Sharek (WSoc), Exercise Science, Apollo/Kiski; John Skebo (FB), Health and Safety, Curwensville/Curwensville; Devin Skinner (MT&F), Athletic Training, Blacksburg, Va./Blacksburg; Kristin Slavoski (VB), Exercise Science, Bethlehem/Freedom; Alexis Slutsky (Lax), Exercise Science, Raleigh, N.C./Wakerfield; Kaylee Smith (VB), Exercise Science, Muncie, Ind./Cowan; Allison Smith (WT&F), Exercise Science/Physical Therapy, Aliquippa/Hopewell; Eva Smith (WT&F), Elementary/Special Education, New Cumberland, W. Va./Weir; Kaela Snyder (WT&F), Exercise Science, North Olmsted, Ohio/North Olmsted; Joe Spears (MT&F), Communication, Erie/North West; Jayme Stanek (WT&F), Exercise Science, Patton/Cambria Heights; Jenna Stine (FH), Athletic Training, Elizabethtown/Elizabethtown; Erin Storck (WSoc), Exercise Science, Louisville, Ky./Assumption; Kara Styles (WT&F/CC), Exercise Science, Windber/Forest Hills;

Tiffany Tedesco (WT&F), Emerging Technology/Multimedia Communications, Pittsburgh/Plum; Sarah Thompson (WT&F/CC), Psychology, Slippery Rock/Slippery Rock; Brian Ulrich (MT&F/CC), Exercise Science, Duncannon/Susquentita; Shawn Vanderbrook (MT&F), Exercise Science, Marion, N.Y./Marion; Emma VanDenburg (Lax), Health & Physical Education, Brockport, N.Y./Brockport; Emily Vaughn (WT&F), Exercise Science, Wysox/Towanda Area; Emilee Vitez (WBK), Early Childhood Education, Copley, Ohio/Revere; Kalli Wakefield (VB), Elementary/Special Education, Avon Lake, Ohio/Avon Lake; Shauna Walker (Soft), Health & Physical Education, Kittanning/Elderton; Chris Warning (MT&F), Criminology, Monroeville/Gateway; Whitney Warmus (Soft), Health & Physical Education, Nanty-Glo/Blacklick Valley; Dana Webb (WSoc), Exercise Science, Salem, Ohio/Salem; Bob Westerlund (FB), Exercise & Rehabilitative Sciences, Irwin/Penn Trafford; Hayley Wilson (VB), Elementary/Special Education, Scenery Hill/Bentworth; Kim Wilson (VB), Biology, Macomb, Mich./Dakota; Ashley Winkelspecht (Lax), Athletic Training, Delran, N.J./Delran; Kyria Yanoviak (WT&F/CC), Exercise Science, Selinsgrove/Selinsgrove; Becky Younger (WT&F/CC), Athletic Training, Toms River, N.J./Toms River ; Jordan Zeunges (Soft), Health & Physical Education, Derry/Derry Area; Ethan Zweizig (MSoc), Health & Safety, Virginia/Fleetwood.

KEY:
Base = Baseball; CC = Cross Country; FB = Football; FH = Field Hockey; Lax = Women's Lacrosse; MBK = Men's Basketball; MSoc = Men's Soccer; Soft = Softball; T&F = Track & Field; Ten = Women's Tennis; VB = Volleyball; WBK = Women's Basketball; WSoc = Women's Soccer