The SUNY Oneonta athletics department celebrated National Student Athlete Day as part of NCAA Div. III Week today by honoring 35 student athletes for their academic accomplishments.  The student athletes were inducted into the National Student Athlete Honor Society of Chi Alpha Sigma at a luncheon held in Morris Hall.  This year's class marks the 20th group that has been inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma.
 
The 35 Chi Alpha Sigma inductees have achieved at least junior standing in the classroom along with gaining a cumulative 3.4 grade point average while earning a varsity letter in an NCAA intercollegiate sport. They also must be of good moral character and have the endorsement of both the head coach of his or her sport and the chapter president.
 
In addition to the honorees, invited to the celebration were all student-athletes who have shown exemplary performance in the classroom to acknowledge their success in both academics and athletics.  National Student-Athlete Day was created 30 years ago to honor student-athletes who have achieved excellence in academics and athletics, while having made significant contributions to their schools and communities. It was also created to recognize parents, teachers, and coaches and school systems, which have made it possible for young people to find balance between academics and athletics.
 
2017 Chi Alpha Sigma Inductees
Jr.       Keley Abbriano (Hicksville/Hicksville)                         Soccer                                                                   Criminal Justice
Sr.      April Ackermann                       XC/Track & Field                                Early Childhood Education
Sr.      Sam Beaulac                              Baseball                                                          Business Economics
Jr.       Kayla Belush                             Soccer                         Spanish/International Development Studies
Jr.       Thomas Bond (Somers/North Salem)                            Baseball                                                                             Biology
Jr.       Erica Carney (Massapequa/Plainedge)                              Lacrosse                                                                            Dietetics
Jr.       Christa Decker                           Track & Field                                                                    Biology
Sr.      Taylor DeClerck (Goshen/Goshen Central)                        Track & Field                                     Psychology/Criminal Justice
Sr.      Gabrielle Eppolito                     Volleyball                                                                          Biology
Jr.       Coz Fiore (Webster/Webster Thomas)                                   Lacrosse                                                    Communication Studies
Sr.      Alana Green (Pittsford/Pittsford)                              Tennis                                                                Computer Science
Jr.       Katelyn Higgins                         Lacrosse                                                                 Fashion Design
Jr.       Megan Holzwarth                      XC/Track & Field                                                  Graphic Design
Jr.       Alexandra Jacques                     Track & Field                                      Early Childhood Education
Sr.      Valerie Joern                             Tennis                                Early Childhood/Childhood Education
Jr.       Nicole Johnston                         Field Hockey                                                  Business Economics
Jr.       Connor Killane                          Swimming & Diving                                       Business Economics
Jr.       Kristyn Kumpfbeck                   Track & Field                                                                   Dietetics
Jr.       Zach Lasky                                Tennis                                                                    Music Industry
Jr.       Kylie Loforte                             Swimming & Diving                           Adolescent Education/Math
Jr.       Natalie Longo                            Field Hockey                                       Adolescent Education/Math
Jr.       Matt Marino                              Wrestling                                                                           Biology
Jr.       Thomas Marrone                       Wrestling                                           Environmental Sustainability
Jr.       Paige McDermott                       Soccer                                                Criminal Justice/Psychology
Jr.       Jaime Morris                              Lacrosse                                                                            Dietetics
Jr.       Robert Murphy                          Track & Field                                                                   Dietetics
Jr.       Emily Opalinski                         Soccer                                                                            Sociology
Sr.      Claire Piampiano                       Swimming & Diving                                    Business Management
Sr.      Nicholas Ponesse                       Baseball                                                Political Science/Sociology
Jr.       Laura Rolston                            Soccer                                                                          Psychology
Jr.       Alison Romer                            Soccer                                                            Biomedical Sciences
Jr.       Carly Sicker                               Field Hockey                                             Fashion Merchandising
Jr.       Maggie Vachris (Setauket/Ward Melville)                         Field Hockey                                                                    Dietetics
Jr.       Melissa Voyer (Baldwinsville/C.W. Baker)                            Volleyball                                                                    Accounting
Jr.       Daniel Westman (Fultonville/Fonda-Fultonville)                         XC/Track & Field                                         Adolescent Education
 
Chi Alpha Sigma also recognized Ms. Joanne Murphy as its 15th Honorary Inductee for her continued support to student athletes at the College.  Murphy works in the Office of Academic Advisement and is the faculty mentor for the men's soccer team.
 
About NCAA Div. III Week
NCAA Div. III schools around the nation are involved in the association's fifth annual NCAA Div. III week.  The uniqueness of participation in Div. III athletics will be at the forefront of many athletic, academic and community service events at many Div. III institutions.
 
The event is part of the Div. III identity initiative that promotes the ideal of "Discover, Develop and Dedicate."  Division III schools strive to provide student athletes the opportunity to discover their potential and develop their passions through full participation in campus life, and ultimately to dedicate themselves to success as citizens and leaders in society.
 
The initiative was unveiled in 2010 and guided by a strategic positioning platform describing Div. III as a place where student athletes can "follow your passions and discover your potential."  It is an approach to intercollegiate athletics that combines rigorous academics, highly competitive sports, and an opportunity to become involved in a variety of other opportunities ranging from clubs to performing arts to study abroad.
 
Running April 4 to 10, Div. III Week will celebrate the Div. III student athlete experience, which offers a highly competitive athletics environment, a commitment to academic excellence and time to pursue other interests.
 
Division III is the NCAA's largest and most diverse division, with more than 450 members, 43 conferences and more than 190,000 student-athletes.
 
Division III Week is an opportunity for all individuals associated with a Div. III institution or conferences to observe the impact of athletics on the campus and surrounding community, as student athletes engage in activities focusing on academic accomplishment, athletic experience and leadership/community service/campus involvement.
 
About National Student Athlete Day
National Student Athlete Day, a program of the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS), has been celebrated annually on April 6 since 1987.
 
The mission of the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS) is "to create a better society by focusing on educational attainment and using the power and appeal of sport to positively affect social change."
 
The NCAS evolved in response to the need to "keep the student in the student-athlete." Since its inception in 1985, NCAS member institutions have proven to be effective advocates for balancing academics and athletics. The NCAS is an ever-growing organization of colleges and universities that provides opportunities for current and former student-athletes to continue their pursuit of higher education, while working in the community addressing social issues.
 
By joining the NCAS, a college or university agrees to bring back, tuition free, their own former student-athletes who competed in revenue and non-revenue producing sports and were unable to complete their degree requirements. In exchange, these former student-athletes agree to participate in school outreach and community service programs. In addition, NCAS members are entitled to a variety of unique services offered exclusively to members of the Consortium.
 
The national headquarters of the National Consortium for Academics and Sports is located at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. The national office's primary mission is to coordinate its various programs and services offered to Consortium members. The NCAS now comprises 240 colleges and universities across the 50 states and Canada.