GCU’s Murphy, Ciliento named 2010-11 D-II CCA Regional Scholar Athletes of the Year

BURNSVILLE, MN - Grand Canyon women’s basketball player Samantha Murphy and men’s soccer player Kyle Ciliento are two of the 16 regional winners of the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award.

A winner was selected from each of the eight NCAA Division II regions, with Ciliento and Murphy claiming the West Region award. The announcement of the male and female Division II Scholar-Athlete of the Year winners will take place this Friday, Sept. 16.

This award, sponsored by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association, provides the opportunity for Division II to highlight the extraordinary achievements of its student-athletes.

Division II CCA President and Commissioner of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Butch Raymond noted that the award showcases the academic and athletic talent at the NCAA Division II level.

“The CCA Scholar-Athlete Awards exemplify the balance between academics and athletics that is the cornerstone of Division II,” Raymond explained.

The commissioners from the regions that comprise the Division II basketball alignment selected the regional winners. To be nominated for consideration, a student-athlete must have attained a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and possess outstanding athletic credentials.

Women’s Regional Winners

• Shannon Gagne – University of New Haven – Track & Field – Criminal Justice (3.93U/3.95GR)
• Neely Spence – Shippensburg – Cross Country/Track & Field – Human Communications Studies (3.87)
• Kate Griewisch – Lenoir-Rhyne – Cross Country/Track & Field – Biology (3.81)
• Barbi Pocza – Barry University – Women’s Tennis – Finance (3.71)
• Lindsay Lettow – University of Central Missouri – Track & Field – Psychology/Spanish minor (3.73)
• Samantha Murphy – Grand Canyon – Basketball – Pre-Physical Therapy (3.97)
• Rebecca Anderson – University of Minnesota Duluth – Soccer – Biochemistry/Molecular Biology (3.939)
• Monica Kinney – Grand Valley State – Track & Field – Nursing (3.78)

Men’s Regional Winners

• Vladimir Milosavljevic – Dowling College – Soccer – Accounting and Finance (4.0)
• Ian Wild – Mercyhurst – Football/Lacrosse – Business (3.905)
• Carter Capps – Mount Olive – Baseball – Environmental Science (3.46)
• Daniel Stapff – Barry University – Golf – Finance (3.917)
• Kirk Jewasko – Incarnate Word – Baseball – Business Administration (3.83)
• Kyle Ciliento – Grand Canyon – Soccer – Business Administration (3.98)
• Matt Braithwaite – Augustana – Cross Country/Track & Field – Biology (4.0)
• Matthew Laschuk – Wayne State University – Swimming – Chemistry/ Pre-Med (3.99)