Knights' history of academic excellence
By Murray Ruggiero, Student Reporter
Since 2010, there have been only a few Central Penn College athletes named as USCAA National All-Academic Team selections.
“Academic All-American, in my opinion, is the highest award a student athlete can win,” says Dave Baker, dean of students and athletic director of Central Penn College. “If you consider the practice time, game preparation and travel, participating on an athletic team can equate to having another major. We are proud of our previous and current USCAA Academic All-Americans.”
USCAA All-Academic guidelines allow “all student-athletes with 24 or more credits on their USCAA transcripts to be eligible for the National All-Academic Team. Overall (cumulative) grade point averages must be 3.50 (on a 4.00 point system) or greater. GPA’s must be documented by way of an unofficial school transcript.”
These student-athletes’ emphasis the word “student” in front of athlete. Most of these student-athletes work a job, keep their grades above a 3.5 GPA and play intercollege sports.
"The USCAA is a national governing body that provides quality intercollegiate athletic competition on a national level. The USCAA provides small colleges under 2,500 enrollment an opportunity to compete for a national championship against like colleges and universities," according to the USCAA website.
Listed below are CPC winners of a National All-Academic Team award since 2010 when the college joined the USCAA.
2017
• Bryan Edwards, Men’s Basketball
2016
• Joseph White, Men’s Basketball
• Bryan Edwards, Men’s Basketball
• Jarett Hoy, Baseball
• Andrew James, Baseball
• Braedon Thomas, Baseball
• Murray Ruggiero, Baseball
• Brandon Casiano, Baseball
• Angie Kovac, Women’s Soccer
• Mary Weingartner, Women's Basketball/Soccer
• Dino Santiaque, Men’s Soccer
• Douda Bamba, Men’s Soccer
• Jadon Buser, Men’s Soccer
• Nick Tshinkil Men’s Soccer
• Lauree Wiegand, Volleyball
• Alexa Christamn, Volleyball/Women’s Basketball
• Janelle Arbogast, Volleyball
• Devin Barshinger, Volleyball
• Nicole Schimdhammer, Women’s Basketball
2015
• Janelle Arbogast, Women’s Soccer
• Angie Kovac, Women's Basketball
• Nick Tshinkil, Men’s Soccer
• Dino Santiaque, Men’s Soccer
• Jadon Buser, Men’s Soccer
• Brandon Casiano, Baseball
• Braedon Thomas, Baseball
• Murray Ruggiero, Baseball
• Devin Barshinger, Women's Basketball/Women’s Soccer
• Mary Weingartner, Women's Basketball/Soccer
• Nicole Schmidhamer, Women's Basketball
2014
• Devin Barshinger, Women's Basketball/Women’s Soccer
• Janelle Arbogast, Women's Basketball
• Mary Weingartner, Women's Basketball/Soccer
• Nicole Schmidhamer, Women's Basketball
• Conner Arnold, Men’s Basketball
2013
• Marissa Montero, Women's Basketball
• Conner Arnold, Men’s Basketball
• Regis Barwin, Men’s Basketball
• Shelbi Kinard, Volleyball
2012
• Nicholas Branam, Men’s Basketball
• Quinn Wetherall, Men’s Basketball
• Marissa Montero, Women's Basketball
• Kelly Binkley, Women's Basketball
2011
• Cristy Doyle, Women's Basketball
• Shenise Wilkins, Women's Basketball