Ackermann and Garner honored with SU Scholar-Athlete Award

SALISBURY, Md. - Salisbury University announced its winners of the male and female Scholar-Athlete Awards which coincides with the NCAA National Student-Athlete week. Senior women's lacrosse student-athlete Sue Ackermann (Sykesville, Md./Liberty) and senior football student-athlete Jamar Garner (Frederick, Md./Thomas Johnson) were selected for the 2007-08 awards. Ackermann and Garner will be honored at the SU Honors Convocation on Friday, May 2, at 3:30 p.m. in Holloway Hall.

Ackermann is in the midst of her fourth season on the SU women's lacrosse team under the direction of Coach Jim Nestor. The Sea Gulls are currently ranked No. 1 in the country and hold the longest winning streak in Division III with 15 consecutive wins to begin the season.  Ackermann has started 54 of the 77 games she has appeared in through April 9. She ranks second all-time in school history for goals scored (142), assists (127) and points (269). She only needs 21 more assists and 47 points to be the all-time leader in those respective categories. Her first two years she played at the midfield position before moving to attack her junior season. In 2007, she helped the Sea Gulls reach the national championship game as the maroon and gold won a school record 21 games. She was named the Capital Athletic Conference Player of the Year and named to the All-American first team. She was also named to the All-CAC first team, the All-South region first team and was selected to the Tewaaraton Trophy watch list. The Exercise Science major has a near perfect GPA and is a member of several honor societies including Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Epsilon Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa. She also earned ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA All-District second team academic honors and selected to the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll. She also garnered first team All-American honors from Inside Lacrosse magazine and WomensLacrosse.com. The two-time team captain also serves as a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) member here at SU.

Garner played three seasons for Coach Sherman Wood where he appeared in 28 games and started all 11 games in 2007. He led the Sea Gulls to a No. 17 national ranking and a berth into the NCAA tournament. The two previous seasons he helped the Sea Gulls claim back-to-back Eastern College Athletic Conference bowl game victories. He received the distinct honor of being named team captain his junior and senior seasons. In '07, he led the team in rushing yards (798) and touchdowns (13). Garner, who transferred from Morgan State, ran for over 1,200 yards at SU in three seasons and 20 rushing touchdowns on 132 carries. He also caught 14 passes for 175 yards and two scores. He was named to the Atlantic Central Football Conference second team his senior year. Recently, he earned a spot on the ACFC All-Academic team for the fall semester. The Frederick, Md., native was named Team MVP and earned ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA All-District first team academic honors. The Physical Education major boasts a high GPA. He is also very active in the community as he led the SU football reading program and was selected Community Service MVP.

National Student-Athlete Day has been celebrated annually April 6 since 1987 as it is America's day to celebrate outstanding student-athletes who have achieved excellence in academics and athletics while having made significant contributions to the community. It is also a time to recognize those parents, teachers, coaches and school systems which make it possible for young people to find the balance between academics and athletics.

To learn more about National Student-Athlete Day please log onto their Web site http://www.ncaa.org/edout/student_athlete_day.html

SU Scholar-Athlete Award recipients since 1992