VIDEO: Full Eagle Scholars Ceremony
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman University is touting a successful first year for its Eagle Scholars Program, one that has succeeded expectations. It is a point that was made during the second annual Eagle Scholars Ceremony Thursday evening at Jefferson City's First Baptist Church.
The Eagle Scholars Program recognizes academic achievements among Carson-Newman student-athletes. Carson-Newman is the only school in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) to have such a program. To become an Eagle Scholar, student-athletes must have a GPA of 3.25 or higher.
Following an inaugural membership of 72, the program this year honored 93 students during its ceremony as qualified Eagle Scholars. The number represents a 29 percent increase in its first year, but doesn't tell the whole story, according to Gloria Walker, Carson-Newman's academic success coach and athletic liaison, who says the number speaks volumes for the program's future.
"We actually lost a lot of our Eagle Scholars to graduation [at the end of last year], but we still increased our numbers," explained Walker, who helped spearhead the effort with Athletics Director Allen Morgan in establishing Eagle Scholars.
"The program has really blossomed," Walker said. "It's turned into something where the kids are starting to compete. It has become something that the students have really bought into in a short amount of time and has really taken off."
Walker said that though the SAC conference honors academic success through its Commissioner's Honor Roll, the thought was for the University itself to recognize the achievement of its student-athletes.
"We wanted to do something on the local level and really bring attention to that 'hey, our kids get it done on the field and the court, but we want people to know what they do in the classroom."
Along with being honored at the ceremony, Eagle Scholars also receive a patch to wear on their uniforms during the regular season competition.
The ceremony's featured speaker was Carson-Newman running backs coach and former University of Tennessee linebacker Nick Reveiz.
