Jokinen Wins American Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award

PHILADELPHIA -- Temple's Joonas Jokinen was named the American Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award winner for men's soccer on Wednesday. The honor is given to one student-athlete in every sport sponsored by the conference. Joining Jokinen with the honor was Lea Millio of Temple's women's rowing team.

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.

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

Temple University Athletics

Jokinen Wins American Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award

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