PHILADELPHIA -- Temple University honored its best in athletics, both on and off the field, at its third annual Breakfast of Champions Wednesday morning. In all, over 200 Temple student-athletes were recognized for academic and athletic endeavors with men's soccer standout Steven Wacker and women's track star Rachel Clinton receiving the highest honor of the morning. The duo were the named the top senior male and female Student-Athletes of the Years, respectively.
Wacker, a first team all-Atlantic 10 Conference midfielder, helped lead the men's soccer team to its second straight conference final. Off the field, the Philadelphia native earned Second Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors, compiling a 3.87 cumulative grade point average as a kinesiology major.
Clinton, a five-time Atlantic 10 Conference champion, is one of the top hurdlers in the East. The Columbia, MD native earned accolades in the classroom with her selection to the Academic All-Atlantic 10 Team. The elementary education major has compiled a 3.83 cumulative grade point average.
Temple Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw announced that 134 student-athletes were named to the Director's Honor Roll (3.0-3.49 cumulative grade point averages). Temple President Dr. David Adamany furthered that list with the addition of 63 student-athletes to the President's Honor Roll (3.50 or above). Adamany then singled out the Top 10 student-athletes - Rachel Clinton (women's track), Erin Conroy (field hockey), Patricia Dalton (women's soccer), Erin Davis (women's gymnastics), Elena Hekimian (women's soccer), Laura Sieverling (women's tennis), Ashley Shepps (field hockey), Samantha Vietry (women's soccer), Stephanie Vietry (women's soccer) and Steven Wacker (men's soccer) - for the Trustees' Honor Roll.
"The Breakfast of Champions is the perfect way to celebrate as a community what is special about athletics at Temple University," said Bradshaw, who instituted the event in 2003, his first full year at the school. Nyika White of the men's gymnastics team and Erika Messa of the women's gymnastics team were named the recipients of the Temple Teammates Award for Leadership and Community Service.
The women's tennis team won the Top Team GPA Award for the third straight year with an aggregate grade point average of 3.35.
Athletically, junior Candice Dupree was honored for earning All-America status in women's basketball. Dupree was also honored along with Patrick Hannigan of men's soccer team for being named conference Players of the Year in their respective sports. The softball team, the women's basketball team, seven members of the men's gymnastics team and one women's fencer were also recognized for participating in the NCAA Tournament.
Fox 29's Don Tollefson, who has been involved with Philadelphia athletics as a television sports anchor for four decades, served as the emcee for this year's Breakfast of Champions.
