Student-Athletes Honored for Academic Achievement
In the midst of finals week at Carnegie Mellon University, the athletics department honored a select group of student-athletes for their success in the classroom with the inaugural Student-Athlete Academic Achievement Celebration on Wednesday, December 10. Carnegie Mellon President Subra Suresh joined faculty members and athletics department coaches and staff to celebrate the students’ accomplishments.
The event was established to recognize the top juniors and seniors in each of the six undergraduate colleges that comprise Carnegie Mellon. The 27 students invited to attend the event boast an average GPA of 3.75. Eight have cumulative GPAs of 3.9 or higher and two have unblemished academic records with perfect 4.0s. In addition, two were elected to the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society this fall.
Dr. Suresh, who recalled his own athletic experience as a high school cricket player, shared his gratitude with the student-athletes for the way they represent the university.
“For the last year-and-a-half I’ve learned quite a bit
about CMU’s unique culture and strengths. This is one of the
proudest attributes of that culture,” Dr. Suresh said.
“Athletic excellence combined with academic excellence, very
rigorous physical training combined with very rigorous academic
training; I think that’s pretty remarkable. I admire you
enormously for what you do.”
The performance of Carnegie Mellon’s student-athletes in the classroom has been a significant point of pride for the community. Last fall, 70 student-athletes finished the semester with 4.0 GPAs. Fifty-eight were perfect in the classroom during the spring semester. Carnegie Mellon’s men’s golf team had a 3.70 cumulative GPA during the 2013-14 academic year, which was the highest team mark in the country.
“While today’s event celebrates your academic achievement, and the great things you have done in your respective disciplines, I want to take a moment to make sure everyone knows that among our best students, are many of our best athletes and competitors,” said Director of Athletics Josh Centor. “Academic and athletic success is not mutually exclusive, and you prove that every day.”
Other speakers at Wednesday’s event included Dr. Eric Grotzinger, who is Carnegie Mellon’s Faculty Athletics Representative, and students Lucy Havens and Justin Fischler. Dr. Grotzinger shared his perspective on the reasons Carnegie Mellon student-athletes have found such significant success in both the academic and athletic realms.
“You’ve got your teammates, you’ve got your team and you are connected. You are also the masters at being able to manage your time,” said Grotzinger. “The healthy habits that you develop here you will use for the rest of your lives to be productive, successful and most importantly happy. Congratulations to all of you for all you are achieving both in and out of the classroom and for being role models for our entire population.”
Lucy Havens, one of three women’s soccer players in attendance and a Phi Beta Kappa honoree, spoke about the rigors of academics at Carnegie Mellon and how her athletics family has contributed to her success. Fischler, a senior captain on the men’s golf team, discussed the drive and dedication student-athletes must have to find success in their academic and athletic lives.
Each of the recognized students had the opportunity to invite an influential faculty member or academic advisor to the event. The athletics department expects to host the Student-Athlete Academic Achievement Celebration annually.
“Among us today are future engineers, computer scientists and doctors. We have the next generation of business leaders, architects, writers and educators,” Centor said. “I have always believed that the future leaders of our country are learning on the fields and in the classrooms of Carnegie Mellon University, and you represent that current and future greatness.”