The American Southwest Conference yesterday announced its Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams for the fall 2011 sports and Howard Payne University landed five student-athletes on the lists.
Howard Payne’s five Distinguished Scholar-Athletes include the following:
FOOTBALL
Thomas Head Jr. Psychology 3.69 Alvarado, TX
Thomas Head is a two-time Academic All-Conference selection. Thomas played in eight games for Howard Payne and started three at quarterback. He was 35 of 76 passing for 383 yards and 3 TDs. He also rushed for one TD.
MEN’S SOCCER
Jesus Vazquez Sr. Spanish/Education 3.74 Ennis, TX
Jesus played in all 16 matches for Howard Payne this season and started in seven. He scored one goal on six shots on goals. He has worked as a Spanish tutor and volunteer with local high school and club soccer programs.
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Shannon Costello Jr. Exercise and Sport Science 4.0 Farmington Hills, MICH
Shannon Costello was named 3rd Team All-Conference as a midfielder this season. She led HPU in assists with eight placing her in the top ten in the ASC. She also was second on the team in goals scored with six. She is a member of HPU Student Foundation and Gamma Beta Phi National Honor Society.
VOLLEYBALL
Tamika Heline Sr. Business Admin. 3.83 Spring Branch, TX
Tamika Heline is second all-time at HPU in career kills (1345), kills per game (3.26), service aces (151), digs (1294) and in games played at 412. She is only the second player in HPU history to have over 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career. Her freshman year she was named ASC West Division Freshman of the Year and has named to post season conference teams every year of her career. Tamika is majoring in Business Administration and graduated in December with one of the highest GPAs in the HPU athletic department (3.83). She is a member of Sigma Beta Delta National Honor Society. She was named to the 2010 ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team and is a three-time Academic All-Conference honoree.
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Baillie Trumble So. Biology 3.22 Granbury, TX
Baillie Trumble completed her first year with the HPU cross country team with a personal best time at the Hardin-Simmons Invitational meet of 24:25, finishing 20th overall. She is a member of Beta Beta Beta National Honor Society (Biology) and the Fellowship Christian Athletes.
Overall, a record 72 student-athletes from ASC men’s cross country, women’s cross country, football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer and volleyball were named to the Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team.
The honor, in its fifth academic year, recognizes student-athletes that achieve a higher level of academic achievement (a 3.20 grade-point average or better) while competing as a starter or important reserve on their team. From that list – limited to one nominee per school in each ASC championship sport – the sports information directors from the conference’s 16 member institutions vote on a Distinguished Scholar-Athlete from each sport.
