HILO, Hawaii – On National Student-Athlete Day, the University of Hawaii at Hilo recognizes 78 Vulcan student-athletes for their academic, athletic and community service excellence.
 
Created by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports in 1987, student-athletes must earn a 3.0 grade point average or higher while engaging in community service.
 
This year's recipients include:
 
Baseball (11) – Micah Carter, William Cleary, Nathan Green, Jacob Grijalva, Reece Kato, Jaron Manago, Timothy Mendonca, Sean Nearhoof, Jonathan Segovia, Phillip Steering, Morgan West
 
Women's Basketball (9) – Alia Alvarez, Lauren Hong, Alexa Jacobs, Pilialoha Kailiawa, Felicia Kolb, Sydney Mercer, Kimberly Schmelz, Keani Shirai, Patience Taylor
 
Cross Country (4) – Riley Arroyo, Crsytal-Lynn Baysa, Anna Mikkelson, Kaylee Rapoza
 
Women's Golf (5) – Shannon Abarra, Shantel Antonio, Andi Igawa, Keely Kitamura, Kristen Sawada
 
Men's Golf (4) – Kyeton Littel, Conor Morley, Casey Tamura, David Tottori
 
Men's Soccer (11) – Max Darris, Andrew Dawrs, Juan David Diaz Casallas, Cassidy Dixon, Tyler Hoffman, Trenton Hooper, Joshua Jasper, Anton Lund, Omar Machado, Zachary Solarte, George Wakefield
 
Women's Soccer (11) – Kailah Buchanan, Kayla Clarke, Kahri Golden, Annabel Gonzalez, Meghan Langbehn, Nicole Rascon, Kayela Santiago, Alexa Smiley, Danika Steele, Leighana Weaver, Abcde Zoller
 
Softball (11) – Angela Aguinaga, Billi Derleth, Cyanne Fernandez, Bailey Gaspar, Brittany Huff, Mari Kawano, Cristina Menjivar, Stephanie Pasco, Danielle Pulido, Maria Steadmon, Danielle Wilson
 
Men's Tennis (4) – Stefan Coney, Ryuta Ogawa, Kainoa Rosa, Ryan Torio
 
Women's Tennis (3) – Trixie Croad, Bianca Novotna, Chelsea Sato
 
Volleyball (5) – Trixie Croad, Siera Green, Mariya Heidenrich, Marley Strand-Nicolaisen, Kyndra Trevino-Scott
 
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
 
Created by the NCAS in 1987, National STUDENT-Athlete Day is celebrated annually on April 6th.  National STUDENT-Athlete Day was designed to honor the outstanding achievements of high school and college student-athletes who have achieved excellence in academics and athletics, while having made significant contributions to their schools and communities.  Events celebrating the day can take place throughout the entire month or in conjunction with an event that is already in place. It has become one of America's strongest endeavors promoting the positive virtues of sport and student-athletes as a whole, and the positive affect they both have on society.
 

• +More than 4.1 million student-athletes honored
• +In 2015, over 229,000 student-athletes honored
• +All student-athletes honored have achieved a 3.0+ GPA and are involved in outreach and community service.