Friday, December 19, 2003

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (December 19, 2003) - The Southern Conference today announced its TIAA-CREF Academic All-Conference teams for the fall semester of 2003. East Tennessee State University had 10 student-athletes tabbed for the honor. A total of 241 student-athletes, representing all 12 Southern Conference institutions were named to the team. The 241 student-athletes averaged a 3.54 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. To be eligible, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and have competed in at least one-half of their team's competitions during the fall. This is the second year that the Southern Conference has named an All-Academic Team by season. The program started with winter sports All-Academic teams in basketball, wrestling and indoor track. The All-Academic teams are made possible by a grant from the Southern Conference's Education Partner, TIAA-CREF. Women's soccer had the most individuals on the team with 76. There were 44 volleyball and 44 women's cross country student-athletes named to the All-Academic team followed by football with 29. TIAA-CREF, with approximately $259 billion in assets under management, is the premier retirement system for the education and research sector in the U.S., serving 2.5 million participants at 15,000 institutions. Additionally, the TIAA-CREF group of companies offers mutual funds, after-tax annuities, life insurance, and trust services to the general public. The TIAA-CREF group also manages 13 state-sponsored college savings programs, more than any other company. Athlete Sport Year GPA Major Hometown Marty Irvin Volleyball So. 3.90 Elementary Education Knoxville, Tenn. Christine Ward Women's Cross Country So. 3.87 Pre-Nursing Candler, N.C. Erin Ashton Women's Soccer So. 3.79 Biology New Bern, N.C. Jennifer Habbestad Women's Cross Country Jr. 3.65 Criminal Justice Tampa, Fla. Meghan Morris Women's Soccer So. 3.63 Mass Communication Bowie, Md. Kate Steidle Volleyball Sr. 3.53 Biology Waynesboro, Va. Jennifer Fields Women's Soccer Jr. 3.41 Sports Management Mount Airy, Md. Peter Dalton Men's Cross Country So. 3.34 Criminal Justice & Criminology Dublin, Ireland Travis Williams Football Sr. 3.29 Exercise Science Bluffton, S.C. Tiffany Collier Women's Cross Country Jr. 3.27 Early Childhood Development Atlanta, Ga.