VIDEO: Mike Mincey Interview
VIDEO: Third Annual Eagle Scholars Ceremony
VIDEO: Eagle Scholars Video
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's women's basketball program was presented with the inaugural Director's Cup and the university honored 129 student athletes as Eagle Scholars Tuesday evening with the third annual Eagle Scholars Ceremony at Holt Fieldhouse.
The Director's Cup is presented to the team, in this case head coach Mike Mincey and his women's basketball program, that best represents the values espoused by the Eagle Scholar Program as selected by the Eagle Scholar Committee.
"As much pride as we put in academics, to be able to win this award knowing the what the rest of this athletic department is about, it's great to be first," Mincey said. "I hope this goes on for years to come; we're just happy to be first."
The women's basketball program saw a 400 percent increase in the number of athletes who earned the accolade last year versus this year. Last year, just two were represented the program, this year, a whopping 10 made the list.
"The girls deserve all the credit," Mincey said. "I'm extremely proud of them. It's better for us to get high academic kids. Coach Ashley Tipton did a great job guiding them last year, but it's the players who put in all the effort."
Year three for the Carson-Newman Eagle Scholars program saw a record number of Carson-Newman student athletes named to the school's athletic department honor roll.
All told, 129 student athletes earned the requisite minimum 3.25 GPA to earn inclusion as an Eagle Scholar.
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.
Following an inaugural membership of 72, the program last year honored 93 students during its ceremony as qualified Eagle Scholars. Membership in the program increased 29 percent from year one to year two, and 38.7 percent from year two to year three. Overall, it's a 72.1 percent increase in the program from its inaugural year to now.
Along with being honored at the ceremony, Eagle Scholars also receive a patch to wear on their uniforms during the regular season competition.
BASEBALL
Vincent Apicella
Ryan Eberle
Seth Hickman
Austin Kearney
Eric Lynch
Brandon Roberts
Harley Thompson
Mitchell Trzeciak
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Christian Harris
Sawyer Williams
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
FOOTBALL
Daniel Gallman
Charles Leavel
Matthew Rust*
Micah-Jon Varner
Jacob Walker
MEN'S GOLF
Corey Bray
Eduardo Carrillo Salinas
Richard Hall
Nathan Hodge
Ben Kennard
Nicklaus Kennedy
WOMEN'S GOLF
Elizabeth England
Jessica Hart
Meridith Hawkins
Ashley Kay
Kelli Pemberton
MEN'S SOCCER
Samuel Amure
Polymnios Avgousti
Bob Bishop
Lucas Franco de Siqueira
Luke Greer**
Tanner Heath
Kavi Luchowa
Thibault Mathorez
Stuart Oliver
Marius Staalby
James Ward
Sindre Welo
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Katelyn Cottrell
Gabrielle Gianeselli
Mikayla Gregg
Chelsea Jordan
Nora Logan
Nikki McWilliams
Lauren Morelock
Hannah Schoutko
SOFTBALL
Bre Lockett
Elayna Siebert
SPIRIT SQUAD - CHEER
Ashley Carrier
Chappel Headrick
Rachel Justice
Brandi Lewis
Sarah Beth Maddox
Kelly Mrock
Ali Patterson
Erin Steelman
Abbey Stiles
SPIRIT SQUAD - DANCE
Keaton Evans
Amy Holsomback
Lauren Murph
Brittany Parker
MEN'S SWIMMING
Joshua Grover
Patrick McCarty
Benjamin McCrary
Davis Vincent
Andrew Wheeler
WOMEN'S SWIMMING
Courtlyn Fields
Elizabeth Gitto
Maggie Melhorn
Nancy Claire Smith
Margaret Stansberry
MEN'S TENNIS
Kevin Mendes
Joao Pedro Oliveria
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Haleigh Chastain
Patricia Guerreiro
Sydney Ledington
MEN'S TRACK
Randall Freeman
Taylor Hawk ***
Noah Hill
Anthony Jackson
Tanner Stepp
Patrick Stump
Lee Wells
WOMEN'S TRACK
Amber Farmer†
Gabrielle Fewell†
Tori Gaul
Samantha Gudger
Hannah Green†
Sara Honaker†
Briana Hunter
Aiyana Martino†
Tiana Mills
Kiayna O'Neal
Madison Pickel
Madison Pulver
Haylea Seals†
Sarah Sharp†
VOLLEYBALL
Eileen Anderson
Sara Fairley
Morgan Harlan
Rachel Harper
Kristina Hill
Kristen Pickett
Lindsey Wells
* Football & Track
** Men's Soccer & Track
*** Men's Track & Cross Country
† Women's Track & Cross Country
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