HORNETS SCORE BIG AT HONOR’S NIGHT CELEBRATION

DOVER, Del. - Delaware State University recently announced its recipients of the highest academic honors during the 38^th annual Honor's Program celebration and Hornet student-athletes from various teams scored numerous marks of distinction during the evening event.

"The upper echelon of academic performers from the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is an impressive group," stated Eric Hart, Associate Athletic Director for Student Services. "They consistently set the bar for their peers and will be very successful at the next stage of their careers once they graduate from DSU. We are honored to be in their company; they continue to make us proud."

Junior bowler Jazmyne Hefflefinger (Harrisburg, Pa.) and junior softball player Leslie Pleasanton (Smyrna, Del.) received top honors as the departmental scholars for their respective colleges. Hefflefinger is a student in the Department of Public and Allied Health Sciences while Pleasanton is enrolled in the Department of Education.

Over 15 student-athletes also received academic excellence awards for their work this school year. Listed below are the students, their sport and department.

Baseball

Elliott Gardner (So.; Middletown, Del.; Biology)

Derek Marshalsea (So.; Newark, Del.; Sport Sciences)

Women's Basketball

Crystal Pitt (So.; Fort Washington, Md.; Social Work)

Football

Brandon Cunningham (So.; Lumberton, N.J.; Sociology/Criminal Justice)

Calvin Miner (R-So.; Sanford, Fla.; Sociology/Criminal Justice)

Soccer

Michelle Giorgilli (Jr.; Millville, Del.; Biology)

Softball

Sherelle Sheppard (Sr.; Georgetown, Ontario, Canada; History)

Men's Tennis

Phillip Scott (Political Science)

Women's Tennis

Anna Ratnikova (Sr.; Moscow, Russia; Sociology/Criminal Justice)

Polina Razborova (Sr.; Omsk, Russia; Accounting)

Marina Sicic (So.; Belgrade, Serbia; Accounting)

Track and Field/Cross Country

Alan Laws (Jr.; Mays Landing, N.J.; Sport Sciences)

Kara Rice (Fr.; Psychology)

Volleyball

Sara Elliott (R-Fr.; Torrence Calif.; Art)

Martina Ferrari (Sr.; Trento, Italy; Political Science)

Elisa Herrmann (Jr.; Andernach, Germany; Hospitality and Tourism Management)

Another select group of student-athletes were inducted into various honor societies at the event. Alpha Chi members are the top one percent of the junior or senior class with a minimum GPA of 3.9. Pi Gamma Mu honors are given to junior and senior social science majors who post a minimum GPA of 3.0 while Pi Sigma Alpha is given to junior and senior political science majors with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Lambda Pi Eta honors are given to mass communication majors with an overall 3.0 GPA and 3.25 GPA in their major. Listed below are the student-athletes, their sport and the society.

Football

Byron Lewis (Jr.; Virginia Beach, Va.) - Pi Gamma Mu

Miner - Pi Gamma Mu

Softball

Janelle Lukens (Sr.; Williamsport, Pa.) - Lambda Pi Eta

Jordan Reid (Jr.; Accokeek, Md.) - Pi Gamma Mu

Volleyball

Ferrari - Alpha Chi, Pi Sigma Alpha, Pi Gamma Mu

Finally, 12 student-athletes were inducted into the National Society for Collegiate Scholars. The NSCS is an honor society inviting high-achieving first and second year college students who rank in the top 20 percent of their class. Listed below are the student-athletes and their sport.

Women's Basketball

Kianna D'Oliveira (So.; Newport News, Va.)

Bowling

Nicole Bower (So.; Camp Hill, Pa.)

Hefflefinger

Brooke Peterson (So.; Aurora, Ill.)

Equestrian

Brittni Collins (So.; Denton, Md.)

Bethany Fleming

Football

Miner

Softball