Hokie ClubORLANDO, Fla. – Junior midfielder Jessica Nonn of the Virginia Tech lacrosse team was honored by the Scholar-Baller program, in conjunction with the National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS), and was one of 20 student-athletes to receive the Academic Momentum Award.
This is the first of such honors for Nonn, who also earned ACC All-Academic team accolades in 2010.
Winning nominations included stories of: overcoming learning disabilities to progress academically; becoming the first in their family to graduate with a degree from college or a university; being an international student who had to persevere through hardships both academically and economically; and organizing local community service involvement within their community.
The NCAS is an ever-growing organization of colleges and universities that provides opportunities for current and former student-athletes to continue their pursuit of higher education, while working in the community with children to address social issues. Established in 1985, the overall mission of the NCAS is “to create a better society by focusing on educational attainment and using the power appeal of sport to positively affect social change.”
Established in 1995, the Scholar-Baller® movement evolved in response to concerns that the student-athlete’s athletics role increasingly superseded the student role. In order to address this issue, the founding members of Scholar-Baller® developed a groundbreaking program to bridge the gap between education and sport utilizing student-athletes’ passion for entertainment and athletics. As a result, the Scholar-Baller® program has produced unprecedented outcomes in student retention and academic achievement.
Nonn currently leads the Hokies in scoring (23), ground balls (19) and caused turnovers (15) and ranks second in points (32) and draw controls (20) this season.
Full list of award recipients:
Name, School, Major, Sport, NCAS region
Jaclyn Grodotzke, Monmouth, Business Administration, Soccer, Mid-Atlantic
Corrine Williams, Temple, Anthropology, Gymnastics, Mid-Atlantic
Taylor Szatkowski, Illinois at Chicago, Sociology, Volleyball, Midwest
Centhya “Coco” Hart, St. John’s University, Criminal Justice, Basketball, Northeast
Kirby Wright, Nebraska, Marketing, Softball, Rocky Mountain
Jessica Nonn, Virginia Tech, Undecided, Lacrosse, South Central
Carla Tietz (tie), Georgia, Child and Family Development, Volleyball, Southeast
Tiara Swanagan (tie), Florida State, Social Science, Track and Field, Southeast
Delisha Wills (tie), Southern Methodist University, English, Basketball, Southwest
Adrianna Franch (tie), Oklahoma State University, Graphic Design, Soccer, Southwest Erin Kelly, Cal State University-Northridge, Recreation, Soccer, Western
Trevon Rainford, La Salle, Business Administration, Track and Field,
Mid-Atlantic
Alex Kube (tie), Northern Illinois, General Studies, Football, Midwest
Culmer St. Jean (tie), Wisconsin, Consumer Affairs, Football, Midwest
Jermaine Henderson, Maine, Child and Family Development, Football, New England
Greg Logins, Canisius, Sports Administration, Basketball, Northeast
Ricky Lumpkin, Kentucky, Community Communications and Leadership Development, Football, South Central
Cliff Matthews, South Carolina, Criminal Justice, Football, Southeast
Girma Mecheso, Oklahoma State, Health and Exercise Science, Cross Country
Jovon Hayes, University of Arizona, Interdisciplinary Studies, Football