CSI HONORS SCHOLAR-ATHLETES ON ANNUAL STUDENT-ATHLETE DAY

CSI

Sponsored by the National Consortium of Academics and Sports, the College of Staten Island Office of Intercollegiate Athletics held their 2nd Annual Student-Athlete Day at the CSI Sports and Recreation Center, honoring its collection of scholar-athletes. The short ceremony honored 89 CSI scholar-athletes that held a 3.0 GPA or higher, as of the fall 2011 semester.

The scholar-athlete citations correspond with CSI’s Athletic Director Honor Roll, released for the first time for the fall 2010 semester, sponsored by the CSI Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

National Student-Athlete Day is celebrated nation-wide, commending scholastic achievement by student-athletes. Since 1987, the National Consortium of Academics and Sports has been on NCAA campuses to promote the accolades of its finest student-athletes, its scholar-athletes, who take their headstrong discipline and passion for what they do on the field of play and transfer it to the classroom.

After a short introduction by CSI Athletic Director Vernon Mummert, participants were greeted by CSI President Dr. Tomas Morales, Provost William Fritz and Vice President for Student-Affairs, Dr. Ramona Brown. Together, they preached of the importance of CSI’s continued accolades in the classroom, and the commitment of CSI athletes to continue to raise the number. Participants were treated to refreshments at the conclusion of the ceremony.

CSI’s Louis Valdez, Javon Cox, Herschel Jenkins and Olivia Tierno are awarded scholar-athlete status.

“This was a great event to honor the achievements of our scholar-athletes, who together with their peers on the playing field are the most dynamic students on campus,” said Mummert. “Many of our student-athletes balance the rigors of full-time studies along with one and even two full or part-time jobs, family commitments, and of course, their exploits on the field. It’s an honor to commemorate them in this way.”

CSI honored nearly 44% of the student-athlete body, the highest number ever at the college.  The recipients received a certificate issued to them by the National Consortium of Academics in Sport.  Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Services Katie Arcuri, who works and mentors many of the athletes and oversees the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee was the principal organizer of the event, and puts together the Athletic Director Honor Roll citations each year.

Three of the recipients today will also be honored by the City University of New York Athletic Conference in May as CUNYAC-wide scholar-athletes of the year, including Olivia Tierno (women’s basketball), Lauren Neglia (women’s soccer), and Vladislav Romanov (men’s swimming).