The Whittier College Athletics Department announced that 189 of its student-athletes completed the fall 2008 academic semester with a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.
The student-athlete's success is highlighted by senior Nicholas Papageorge, sophomores Reme Bohlin and Cathleen Clinnin and freshman Megan Maguire-Marshall who all finished the semester with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
In addition to the fall '08 semester Bohlin has maintained a 4.0 GPA for 56 credits. The Kirkland, Wash., native is a member of Whittier's women's tennis team.
Clinnin has completed 43 credits since she has been enrolled at Whittier College and the women's lacrosse midfielder holds a cumulative GPA of 3.9.
Of the 189 student-athletes that have at least a 3.0 GPA 64 of them held a 3.5 or higher for last semester. The remaining 125 student-athletes held a GPA between a 3.0 and a 3.49.
The Poets have 397 total student-athletes that compete for the purple and gold with over 47 percent of them maintaining a ‘B' average.
The individual classroom success is not the only thing that warrants acknowledgment. The women's cross country team will be recognized by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as an All-Academic Team for achieving a team GPA of 3.21.
To earn the All-Academic Team honor a program must compete and score in its respected Regional meet and hold a team GPA of 3.100 or higher. The official announcement is expected in late February.
In addition to the women's cross country team eight other programs held a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. The women's lacrosse team finished last semester with a team GPA of 3.20 while both the men's tennis and women's swimming team had team GPAs of 3.10.
Men's cross country and women's water polo finished last semester with a 3.02 and 3.07 each, respectively.
The final three programs that finished last semester with a 3.0 or higher were the golf, women's soccer and women's tennis team who all had a 3.0.
"I am so proud of the hard work and determination of our student-athletes," said Director of Athletics Robert Coleman. "To think that almost half of our athletes achieved a GPA of a 3.0 or higher is a true testament of the leaders we have in our program. It is a great accomplishment".
The student-athletes that held a 3.5 or higher will be invited to attend the Third Annual President's Club Luncheon on Wednesday, March 25, in Villalobos Hall. The student-athletes will have a chance to dine with Whittier College President Dr. Sharon Herzberger as well as special guest speaker Dr. Lou Moret (class of 1972).
