CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – A school record of 222 student-athletes were honored for their academic achievement during Southeast Missouri's Scholar-Athlete dinner and reception Thursday night in the Show Me Center.
 
Seventy percent of Southeast's student-athletes achieved a 3.0 or higher grade point average to earn the Scholar-Athlete distinction.
 
"I'm extremely proud of our student-athletes and the work they have done in the classroom," Southeast Director of Athletics Mark Alnutt said. "I am really proud of the trajectory that we have with our student-athletes. Two years ago it was about 62 percent of our student-athletes had a 3.0 GPA and now we are up to 70 percent. We are trending the right way. From that standpoint, we do exemplify that you are a student first in the term student-athlete.
 
"It also speaks volumes from the coaching standpoint. Our coaches are making sure they prioritize the mission of this university and their overall goal of collegiate athletes at Southeast Missouri State University. We also need to commend Sharon Burgard and Courtney Lawson and the staff in Academic Services for their job that they do from the academic support standpoint."
 
The Redhawks gymnastics team posted a department-high 3.79 GPA while 26 individuals registered a perfect 4.0 GPA.
 
Three prestigious academic achievement awards were distributed as well.
 
The Jewel Award, which is named after Professor of Biology Don Jewell, is given each year to a senior male athlete with the highest GPA in his career. Seniors Jason Blum of baseball and Alex Zisser of track and field/cross country each won the honor with a 4.0 GPA.
 
The Trombetta Award goes to a graduating senior female student-athlete with the highest GPA. This year's winner was Kimberly Pickerl, a member of the gymnastics squad, who posted a perfect 4.0 GPA.
 
The Hamby Award, given in honor of former Southeast line coach Jim Hamby, is sponsored by the Hamby family and goes annually to the football letterman with the highest GPA. This years award went to corner back Reggie Jennings.
 
In addition, 19 Southeast student-athletes received the Ohio Valley Conference Medal of Honor, given to the student-athlete who achieves the highest GPA in a conference-sponsored sport each year.
 
The 2012-13 OVC Medal of Honor winners include: Jason Blum (baseball), Nick Niemczyk (basketball), Katie Norman (basketball), Brooke Taylor (basketball), Alex Zisser (track and field/Cross country), Gloria Westlake (cross country), Breana Beine (soccer), Jacey Boyko (soccer), Torey Byrd (soccer), Ashley Geist (soccer), Amy Ward (soccer), Summer Burger (softball), Nikole Novikova (tennis), Brian Grote (track and field), Joel Krause (track and field), Alison Barker (track and field), Nikki Buchheit (track and field), Taylor Klump (track and field) and Meredith Stranges (volleyball).