MAAC Student-Athletes Honored with Academic Pins at Graduation
MAAC Sports
EDISON, N.J. - Student-athletes who have earned MAAC All-Academic Team honors will be recognized with a pin at each MAAC institution's graduation in 2014 as part of a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) initiative that was developed two years ago. This is the third year the MAAC will honor the student-athletes' performances in the classroom with a pin at graduation.
“The MAAC SAAC originally proposed that student-athletes be recognized at graduation for their efforts in intercollegiate sports and academic success,” notes Richard Ensor, MAAC Commissioner. “It is a well-deserved recognition and the last opportunity for the MAAC to honor its student-athletes as they graduate and leave their campuses.”
In order for an individual to be eligible for All-Academic honors, a student-athlete must achieve at least a 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) grade point average and must be of at least sophomore academic standing. This year, there will be two color designated pins. White pins will honor student-athletes who have been named to the All-Academic Team once, while gold pins honor student-athletes who have been named to the All-Academic Team two or more times throughout their collegiate careers.
The idea behind honoring the student-athletes came from a MAAC SAAC conference where two representatives from each MAAC institution come together for a weekend to participate in community service initiatives and partake in a meeting to discuss campus programs and improvements for their respective campus SAACs. Members of MAAC SAAC wanted a way to distinguish their accomplishments throughout their time at college as a student-athlete.