Five SMC Athletes Receive NJCAA Awards

06/28/11

SPARTANBURG, SC – Five student-athletes from Spartanburg Methodist College were recognized by the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association for their academic achievement.

Basketball player Darrell “DJ” Brown earned the Pinnacle Award for his perfect 4.0 grade point average, and softball player Leah Babson received the Superior Award with a GPA of 3.93.

In addition, three SMC athletes received Exemplary Awards for GPAs of over 3.50. Cross country runner Sarah Arms maintained a GPA of 3.66, baseball player Benjamin Carlson had a 3.62, and Robert Pierce, a golfer, was recognized for his 3.63.

Besides maintaining the grade point averages required by each of the awards, student-athletes must have completed at least three full-time semesters at their institution, taken at least 45 semester credit hours, and participated in at least one season at the varsity level at their college. All attempted credit hours were included in the calculations for the final GPA.

Spartanburg Methodist College fields 17 athletics teams, and maximizes the benefits to student athletes by letting them participate as upperclassmen as soon as they enter the two-year college. After graduation from SMC, 92% of students transfer to a four-year college to continue their education and receive their degrees.