SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. - The Shippensburg University Athletics Department named junior Mary Dell  and sophomore Bryan Beegle as its 2008-09 Student-Athletes of the Year at the SU Student-Athlete Awards Banquet held in conjunction with National Student-Athlete Day on April 21.

Dell competes in cross country along with indoor and outdoor track and field. She is the lone student-athlete at Shippensburg who has earned All-America honors in three different sports over the past calendar year. Dell has earned better than a 3.9 cumulative grade-point average and is a Dean’s List student. Athletically, during the last calendar year, Dell won two PSAC individual titles and also ran a leg on a national-championship winning relay team at the Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships.

She is a member of the Honors College and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  In addition, she has played an extensive role within her academic program developing a local chapter of a national teaching association, as well as serving as president of the organization.  She has served as a volunteer for a local youth athletic group and as a Special Olympics Coach.

Beegle also competes in cross country along with indoor and outdoor track and field. He has earned better than a 3.6 cumulative GPA and has been on the Dean’s List the past two semesters. Athletically, during the past calendar year, he has been a three-time PSAC Champion. He qualified for the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and was voted the 2009 PSAC Indoor Track Championships Co-Athlete of the Meet for helping his team to the conference title. 

He was honored as a PSAC Scholar-Athlete as well as being named to his sports national coaches’ association all-academic teams.  He has served as a volunteer for a local youth athletic group and has also participated in a fund-raising effort for a local education foundation by building and selling outdoor furniture. 

A third individual award was granted to Will Kane, a senior swimmer and president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Kane was named the 2008-09 Supporter of the year, an honor initiated a year ago in an effort to recognize an individual who has been an active participant in supporting Shippensburg athletics. 

Kane has participated in SAAC-sponsored events and community service projects, often leading the cause for these undertakings. He has been a leader among the students on our campus, specifically among our student-athletes and takes great pride in Shippensburg athletics. Kane has accumulated higher than a 3.6 GPA in his major while qualifying for the PSAC championships over the past four years. 

A five-person committee consisting of Dr. Roberta Page, Carrie Michaels, Jennifer Cummings, Dr. Kurt Fuellhart and Jeff Michaels selected the winners for each award. The selection process for the 2008-2009 SU Student-Athlete of the Year awards was based on achievements in academics, leadership, sportsmanship, community service, and athletics. 

Additional awards were presented to recognize student-athletes for their academic and extra-curricular achievements. Student who had achieved a 4.0 GPA during the 2008 spring and/or 2008 fall semesters received a certificate of appreciation as well as an SU Athletics memory band jump drive.

Each member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) received a certificate of appreciation as well as an SU Athletics briefcase for their dedication to representing their sport, the athletics department, and university and serving as the “voice” of the student-athlete population. 

National Student-Athlete Day has been defined as a special opportunity to honor student-athletes who have achieved excellence in academics and athletics, while having made significant contributions to their schools and communities. It is also a time to recognize parents, teachers, coaches, advisors, and administrators who have helped support student-athletes in their pursuit of balancing their hectic schedules and lives.