MAY 27, 2008 --- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

7 SMC Student Athletes Named  NJCAA Academic All-American 

SPARTANBURG, SC – Seven Spartanburg Methodist College student athletes have been named NJCAA Academic All-Americans for 2007/2008. 

Those include:

•  James Canizzaro, Soccer,  Northwestern High School, Rock Hill, SC;

•  Chelsi Edwards, Softball, Chapman High School, Inman, SC;

•  Kara Harper, Cross Country and Tennis, James F. Byrnes High School,  Duncan, SC;

•  Zeb Heidt, Baseball,  Murray High School, Chatsworth, GA;

•  Charles Matthews, Baseball,  Athens Academy,  Athens, GA;

•  Whitney Wiles, Softball and Cross Country, Crescent High School, Starr, SC;

•  Jeremy Vangsnes, Cross Country, Broome High School, Cowpens, SC

Student athletes must receive an overall 3.60 GPA or better in four semesters of classes and 60 hours of credit to be considered  for the NJCAA Academic All-American honor.  

Matthews was also recognized as a Distinguished Academic All-American, with a GPA of 3.80 or better. 

“We are extremely proud of the academic accomplishments of these seven athletes. It is our mission at SMC to be the best in athletics and academics. I hope we can double these numbers next year,” says SMC Athletic Director Mark Perdue. 

Spartanburg Methodist College has 14 intercollegiate teams that compete in Region X of the National Junior College Athletic Association, which includes colleges in the Carolinas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The College is in its 97th year of providing a quality education to students in a Christian environment. More than 90 percent of SMC graduates continue their education at other institutions of higher learning.

For more information, contact Athletic Director Mark Perdue at (864) 587-4237.

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