Temple University Athletics
Millio, Jokinen Earn American Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards
7.11.17 | General
PHILADELPHIA -- Temple student-athletes Joonas Jokinen (men's soccer) and Lea Millio (women's rowing) were named American Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award winners on Wednesday, as announced by Commissioner Mike Aresco.
The Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards are given to a student-athlete in each American Athletic Conference-sponsored sport based on academic credentials, athletic accolades and performances, and volunteer service to the community. Student-athletes who have attained junior academic standing and a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 are eligible. The final selections are made by the conference's Faculty Athletic Representatives.
Jokinen, a rising senior for the men's soccer team, is a sports and recreation management major. Last fall, he ranked second on the team in total points (12), while leading the Owls with six assists. A second-team All-AAC selection, he was also named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area team. Jokinen helped the 2016 Temple squad to a 10-6-2 overall record and a NSCAA regional ranking, with the Owls recording their first win at Penn State since the 1989 season. The Helsinki, Finland native was also part of Temple's 2015 team, which was ranked as high as #17 in the nation, the first national ranking for the Owls in 18 years.
Millio, a member of Temple's varsity eight boat this season, was also named the Owls' Female Scholar Athlete of the Year. She was a first team American Athletic Conference selection, as well as a team captain. In her career in cherry and white, Millio helped the team to its highest ever team finish (third) at the 2016 American Athletic Conference Championships and was a member of countless medal-winning boats. The Drexel Hill, Pa. native started her career on North Broad as the Owls' Rookie of the Year in 2014 and culminated her Temple accolades by being named the team's Athlete of the Year this season. Millio graduated with "Distinction in Major" as a History Honors Scholar and will attend Temple Law this fall.
Temple was one of seven schools with multiple award recipients, led by UCF's six winners.
2016-17 American Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards
Baseball
Hunter Williams, Tulane
2017 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and First Team CoSIDA Academic All-America; 4.0 GPA
Men's Basketball
Semi Ojeyele, SMU
2017 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Women's Basketball
Leslie Vorpahl, Tulane
2017 American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Men's Cross Country
Nick Buliga, USF
Named Bulls Male Scholar by USF's athletics administration; earned a 4.0 undergraduate GPA
Women's Cross Country
Anne-Marie Blaney, UCF
Two-time American Athletic Conference individual champion in cross country
Clara Langley, Tulsa
All-Midwest Region and all-conference selection in 2016; graduated with 4.0 GPA
Football
Jake Elliott, Memphis
Four-time first-team all-conference selection; 2016 American Athletic Conference Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Men's Golf
Rigel Fernandes, USF
Three-time all-conference selection and member of three American Athletic Conference championship teams
Women's Golf
Lisa Pettersson, East Carolina
Two-time all-conference selection; selected for 2017 NCAA regional championship as an individual
Megan Thothong, Houston
2016 all-conference selection; first player in school history to compete in three NCAA regional championships
Women's Rowing
Ashleigh Boyd, UCF
Member of 2017 American Athletic Conference Boat of the Year; won two varsity eight conference titles
Lea Milio, Temple
Named to American Athletic Conference First Team in 2017
Men's Soccer
Joonas Jokinen, Temple
Named to American Athletic Conference Second Team in 2016
Women's Soccer
Vanessa Gilles, Cincinnati
Named to American Athletic Conference First Team in 2016; two-time all-conference selection
Softball
Lydia Ritchie, East Carolina
Named to American Athletic Conference Second Team in 2017
Men's Swimming and Diving
Connor Davis, Cincinnati
Earned all-conference honors in two relay events in 2016-17
Fran Krznaric, East Carolina
Has won three individual conference championships and member of six conference championship relay squads
Women's Swimming and Diving
Vandela Norman, East Carolina
Two-time American Athletic Conference champion in the 200-yard breaststroke
Men's Tennis
Harrison Richmond, UCF
Ranked as high as No. 27 nationally in doubles in 2016-17
Women's Tennis
Monica Matias, UCF
Two-time American Athletic Conference all-conference selection
Men's Indoor Track and Field
Brian Barraza, Houston
Finished seventh in the 3,000-meter run at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships
Women's Indoor Track and Field
Rosie Chamberlain, UCF
Two-time American Athletic Conference champion in the 800-meter run
Men's Outdoor Track and Field
Adrian Valles, Cincinnati
2017 NCAA runner-up in the pole vault; won six American Athletic Conference indoor and outdoor individual titles
Women's Outdoor Track and Field
Daliadiz Ortiz, Tulane
Three-time conference champion in the javelin throw
Women's Volleyball
Alexandra Mendoza, USF
Ranked third in The American in assists and 10th in service aces in 2016
The Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards are given to a student-athlete in each American Athletic Conference-sponsored sport based on academic credentials, athletic accolades and performances, and volunteer service to the community. Student-athletes who have attained junior academic standing and a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 are eligible. The final selections are made by the conference's Faculty Athletic Representatives.
Jokinen, a rising senior for the men's soccer team, is a sports and recreation management major. Last fall, he ranked second on the team in total points (12), while leading the Owls with six assists. A second-team All-AAC selection, he was also named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area team. Jokinen helped the 2016 Temple squad to a 10-6-2 overall record and a NSCAA regional ranking, with the Owls recording their first win at Penn State since the 1989 season. The Helsinki, Finland native was also part of Temple's 2015 team, which was ranked as high as #17 in the nation, the first national ranking for the Owls in 18 years.
Millio, a member of Temple's varsity eight boat this season, was also named the Owls' Female Scholar Athlete of the Year. She was a first team American Athletic Conference selection, as well as a team captain. In her career in cherry and white, Millio helped the team to its highest ever team finish (third) at the 2016 American Athletic Conference Championships and was a member of countless medal-winning boats. The Drexel Hill, Pa. native started her career on North Broad as the Owls' Rookie of the Year in 2014 and culminated her Temple accolades by being named the team's Athlete of the Year this season. Millio graduated with "Distinction in Major" as a History Honors Scholar and will attend Temple Law this fall.
Temple was one of seven schools with multiple award recipients, led by UCF's six winners.
2016-17 American Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards
Baseball
Hunter Williams, Tulane
2017 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and First Team CoSIDA Academic All-America; 4.0 GPA
Men's Basketball
Semi Ojeyele, SMU
2017 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Men's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Women's Basketball
Leslie Vorpahl, Tulane
2017 American Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Men's Cross Country
Nick Buliga, USF
Named Bulls Male Scholar by USF's athletics administration; earned a 4.0 undergraduate GPA
Women's Cross Country
Anne-Marie Blaney, UCF
Two-time American Athletic Conference individual champion in cross country
Clara Langley, Tulsa
All-Midwest Region and all-conference selection in 2016; graduated with 4.0 GPA
Football
Jake Elliott, Memphis
Four-time first-team all-conference selection; 2016 American Athletic Conference Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Men's Golf
Rigel Fernandes, USF
Three-time all-conference selection and member of three American Athletic Conference championship teams
Women's Golf
Lisa Pettersson, East Carolina
Two-time all-conference selection; selected for 2017 NCAA regional championship as an individual
Megan Thothong, Houston
2016 all-conference selection; first player in school history to compete in three NCAA regional championships
Women's Rowing
Ashleigh Boyd, UCF
Member of 2017 American Athletic Conference Boat of the Year; won two varsity eight conference titles
Lea Milio, Temple
Named to American Athletic Conference First Team in 2017
Men's Soccer
Joonas Jokinen, Temple
Named to American Athletic Conference Second Team in 2016
Women's Soccer
Vanessa Gilles, Cincinnati
Named to American Athletic Conference First Team in 2016; two-time all-conference selection
Softball
Lydia Ritchie, East Carolina
Named to American Athletic Conference Second Team in 2017
Men's Swimming and Diving
Connor Davis, Cincinnati
Earned all-conference honors in two relay events in 2016-17
Fran Krznaric, East Carolina
Has won three individual conference championships and member of six conference championship relay squads
Women's Swimming and Diving
Vandela Norman, East Carolina
Two-time American Athletic Conference champion in the 200-yard breaststroke
Men's Tennis
Harrison Richmond, UCF
Ranked as high as No. 27 nationally in doubles in 2016-17
Women's Tennis
Monica Matias, UCF
Two-time American Athletic Conference all-conference selection
Men's Indoor Track and Field
Brian Barraza, Houston
Finished seventh in the 3,000-meter run at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships
Women's Indoor Track and Field
Rosie Chamberlain, UCF
Two-time American Athletic Conference champion in the 800-meter run
Men's Outdoor Track and Field
Adrian Valles, Cincinnati
2017 NCAA runner-up in the pole vault; won six American Athletic Conference indoor and outdoor individual titles
Women's Outdoor Track and Field
Daliadiz Ortiz, Tulane
Three-time conference champion in the javelin throw
Women's Volleyball
Alexandra Mendoza, USF
Ranked third in The American in assists and 10th in service aces in 2016
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