SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Disproving once again the belief that academics and athletics can not co-exist in a collegiate setting, a school-record total of 181 Rock student-athletes were recently named as recipients of 2007-08 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference “Scholar-Athlete” honors.

The announcement of The Rock’s PSAC Scholar-Athlete list – which represents 45 percent of SRU’s total of 401 student-athletes– comes two weeks after Slippery Rock was named as the winner of the 2007-08 Dixon Trophy, emblematic of the most successful overall athletic program in the PSAC.

“We are extremely proud of the achievements of our student-athletes in both athletic and academic pursuits during the 2007-08 academic year,” SRU Director of Athletics Paul Lueken said. “Winning the Dixon Trophy and setting a school record for most PSAC Scholar-Athletes in the same year speaks volumes about our commitment to provide our student-athletes with a quality academic and athletic experience.

“I applaud the efforts of our student-athletes, coaching staff and numerous support personnel who had a hand in our achieving these athletic and academic accomplishments. Without each of them doing their individual part, none of this would have been possible,” Lueken said.

The list of Rock student-athletes who achieved PSAC Scholar-Athlete status includes 117 female student-athletes, 64 male student-athletes, 35 student-athletes who are members of more than one Rock program and at least one representative from each of SRU’s 19 varsity intercollegiate athletic programs.

The list features six female student-athletes who own perfect 4.0 grade point averages. That elite group includes women’s volleyball players Marissa Balmert, Anna Bixler and all-region performer Jen Blasko; softball student-athlete Nikki Collins, women’s track and field All-America pole vaulter Jennifer Hansen and women’s field hockey student-athlete Stephanie Sylvia.

Also included on the list of Rock student-athletes honored are football standouts Mike Butterworth and Clint Forsha, who each earned first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors from the College Sports Information Directors of America; men’s soccer all-region performer Nick Christy, who earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District honors and women’s soccer Scholar-All-America award winner Danielle Cooper.

Blasko also earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors.

Butterworth and Hansen are included in a group of six Rock student-athletes who earned All-America honors in athletic competition as well as PSAC Scholar-Athlete status. Also included in that elite group are men’s cross country/track and field standouts Pat Reagan and Jeff Weiss), women’s track and field student-athlete Nicole Blaesser and two-time women’s soccer All-America selection Meghan McGrath.

PSAC Scholar-Athlete honors are presented to student-athletes at the conference’s 14 member institutions who have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25.