Jamani and Thornton Recognized for Academic Improvement

Lincoln ? On Tuesday, Nov. 10, two former Huskers were among the 22 student-athletes recognized nationally for their academic improvement by The Scholar-Baller Program and National Consortium for Academics and Sports (NCAS).

 

For the Huskers, former soccer player Aysha Jamani was one of 10 student athletes honored on the women’s side, while former track and field student-athlete Kirkland Thornton was among 12 men’s honorees.

 

Jamani was a four-year letterwinner for the Huskers from 2005-08, racking up 41 points on 15 goals and 11 assists. She was a three-time All-Big 12 selection, including first-team honors as a senior in 2008. She started 67 of 72 games at Nebraska and was an integral part of the Huskers’ 2005 NCAA Tournament run when she scored seven goals and added four assists.

 

After transferring from Eastern Illinois prior to the 2008 season, Thornton redshirted in 2008 and then earned three All-America honors as a hurdler for the Huskers in 2009. After earning All-America in the 60-meter hurdles during the indoor season, Thornton became the first hurdler in school history on the men’s or women’s side to earn All-America in both the 110- and 400-meter hurdles at NCAA Outdoor Championships. While succeeding on the track, Thornton was also named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll during the spring and fall semesters of the 2008-09 school year.

 

Seventy-nine nominations were received from 50 different colleges and universities across the country.  Included in the winning nomination criteria was significant academic improvement as well as strong character traits with community involvement.

 

Each honoree will receive a recognition certificate and authentic Scholar-Baller? patch.  In addition, the winners of each region will receive a Thinkman? and Thinkwoman? Trophy for their academic performances.

 

The NCAS is an ever-growing organization of colleges and universities that provides opportunities for current and former student-athletes to continue their pursuit of higher education, while working in the community with children to address social issues.  Established in 1985, the overall mission of the NCAS is “to create a better society by focusing on educational attainment and using the power appeal of sport to positively affect social change.”

 

Established in 1995, the Scholar-Baller? movement evolved in response to concerns that the student-athlete’s athletic role increasingly superseded the student role.  In order to address this issue, the founding members of Scholar-Baller? developed a groundbreaking program to bridge the gap between education and sport utilizing student-athletes’ passion for entertainment and athletics. As a result, the Scholar-Baller? program has produced unprecedented outcomes in student retention and academic achievement.

 

Female Academic Momentum Award Winners:

(Name, School, Major, Sport, Hometown, NCAS Region)

?         Nicole Haines (West Chester, Health & Physical Education, Lacrosse, West Chester, Pa., Mid-Atlantic)

?         Jenifer Anzivino (Rutgers, Communication, Soccer, Belford, NJ, Mid-Atlantic)

?         Erin Clark (Illinois-Chicago, English, Track & Field, Forrest, Ill., Midwest)

?         Jaclyn Lyons (Massachusetts, Sociology, Rocky Point, N.Y., New England)

?         Nicole Kerrison (NJIT, Biology, Track & Field, Yonkers, N.Y., Northeast)

?         Aysha Jamani (Nebraska, Business Administration, Soccer, Calgary, Alberta, Rocky Mountain)

?         Jazmyn Shorter (Kentucky, Kinesiology & Health Promotion, Track & Field, St. Petersburg, Fla., South Central)

?         Becci Burling (Duke, Psychology/Biological Anthropology & Anatomy, Volleyball, Monument, Colo., Southeast)

?         Amber White (N.C. State, Parks, Recreation & Tourism Program Management, Basketball, Cartesville, Pa., Southeast)

?         Clarissa Andrews (Oklahoma State, Management, Track, Rockwell, Texas, Southwest)

 

Male Academic Momentum Award Winners:

?         Adrian Cannon (Maryland, American Studies, Football, Pontiac, Mich., Mid-Atlantic)

?         Sekou Yansane (Lehigh, Sociology/Social Psychology, Football, Potomac, Md., Mid-Atlantic)

?         J.P. Gavinski (Wisconsin, Community and Nonprofit Leadership, Basketball, Wisconsin, Dells, Wis., Midwest)

?         Jovan Belcher (Maine, Child & Family Development, Football, West Babylon, N.Y., New England)

?         Daniel Benedetti (St. John’s, History, Baseball, Long Beach, Calif., Northeast)

?         Syd’Quan Thompson (California-Berkeley, Social Welfare, Football, Sacramento, Calif., Pacific West)

?         Kirkland Thornton (Nebraska, Economics, Track & Field, South Holland, IL, Rocky Mountain)

?         Tone Belt (Louisville, Communication, Track & Field, Berkeley, W.V., South Central)

?         Tyler Grant Zimmerman (North Carolinal, Management & Society, Lacrosse, Cockeysville, Md., Southeast)

?         Adron Tennell (Oklahoma, Multidisciplinary Studies, Football, Irving, Texas, Southwest)

?         Marcus McGraw (Houston, Health, Football, Arlington, Texas, Southwest)

?         Earl Mitchell (Arizona, Interdisciplinary Studies, Football, Houston, Texas, Western)