CLEVELAND - The Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (DI-AAA ADA) is proud to announce the 20 members of the 17th Annual Scholar-Athlete Team presented by ARMS Software. In addition, the Association selected a men's and women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year and two Postgraduate Scholarship recipients.

"On behalf of the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association, I would like to congratulate the recipients of the Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards and those who have earned a postgraduate scholarship," said Mary Ellen Gillespie, current Division I-AAA ADA President and athletics director at the University of Hartford "These outstanding student-athletes are incredible people who lead in the classroom, in competition and in their communities. They are role models and demonstrate exactly what we mean by student-athlete. We are proud to present them with our highest recognition," she concluded. 

Basketball players from all Division I-AAA ADA member institutions are eligible for these prestigious awards. Each of the nominees is required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.20 - on a 4.00 scale - in undergraduate study and have been a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletics credentials. Nominees must have participated in at least 50 percent (50%) of the team's games listed on the nomination form. To be eligible for nomination to the Scholar-Athlete Team, he/she must have reached junior academic standing at their institution (ineligible athletics transfers are NOT eligible).

Additionally, one male and one female student-athlete were selected as the Division I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athletes of the Year. Receiving this year's female honoree is Cecily Carl, an accounting major with a 3.89 GPA from American University. The men's award recipient is Dylan Windler, an accounting major from Belmont University, who owns a 3.74 GPA.

"Once again, our association is excited to announce this year's men's and women's basketball Scholar-Athlete Teams and Awards recipients," stated Division I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete Team Selection Committee Chair and University of Portland Vice President for Athletics, Scott Leykam. "This was an extremely deep pool of nominees with many deserving winners. Our sincere congratulations to all of those who have been honored."

Ameela Li, a business administration major at the University of the Pacific, with a 3.92 GPA, and Jake Toolson, a communications major at Utah Valley University, with a 3.68 GPA, were selected as the 2019 Postgraduate Scholarship recipients. Each will receive $5,000 towards postgraduate studies and will receive their awards during the Association's annual membership meeting held June 10-12 in conjunction with the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Convention, at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, FL.

Men's Scholar-Athlete Team

Name	Institution	GPA	Major
Clayton Cluster	Loyola University Chicago	3.75	Finance
John Konchar	Purdue Fort Wayne	3.46	Information Technology
Drew McDonald	Northern Kentucky University	3.40	Marketing
Michael Nzei	Seton Hall University	3.64	Business Administration
Josh Perkins	Gonzaga University	3.66	Sport Management
Glenn Sanabria	St. Francis Brooklyn	3.89	Management/Project Management
Joseph Sherburne	UMBC	4.00	Financial Economics
Max Strus	DePaul University	4.00	Business Administration
Jake Toolson	Utah Valley University	3.68	Communications
Dylan Windler	Belmont University	3.74	Accounting

Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Dylan Windler, Belmont University


Women's Scholar-Athlete Team

Name	Institution	GPA	Major
Lindsey Abed	University of Hartford	3.69	Psychology
Cecily Carl	American University	3.89	Accounting
Ronjanae DeGray	University of Arkansas - Little Rock	3.42	Special Education
Mart'e Grays	DePaul University	3.35	Sociology
Stella Johnson	Rider University	3.60	Sports Media
Ameela Li	University of the Pacific	3.92	Business Administration
Darby Maggard	Belmont University	3.53	Psychology
Amy O'Neill	St. Francis Brooklyn	3.86	Accounting
Jenny Roy	Belmont University	3.98	Marketing
Chandler Smith	Gonzaga University	3.87	Organizational Leadership

Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Cecily Carl, American University

Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients: Jake Toolson, Utah Valley University and Ameela Li, University of the Pacific.

A special Review Committee of Division I-AAA Athletics Directors were responsible for selecting the winners. The 2019 Review Committee consisted of: Scott Leykam (Committee Chair), University of Portland; Amanda Braun, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Chasse Conque, University of Arkansas - Little Rock; Irma Garcia, St. Francis College; Robert Lineburg, Radford University, Philip Hutcheson, Lipscomb University; Jean Lenti Ponsetto, DePaul University; Kenneth Siegfied, California State University Bakersfield; and Marianne Reilly, Manhattan College.

About the Division I-AAA ADA: Now in its 18th year, the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association's mission is to enhance initiatives common to its Division I-AAA membership (the Division I institutions that do not sponsor football), in particular, aspects related to their flagship basketball programs. For more information on the Division I-AAA ADA, please visit www.div1aaa-ada.com. The Division I-AAA ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 54^th year. For more information on NACDA and the 17 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.