CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) has announced the 2018-19 recipients of the D2 ADA Academic Achievement Awards. The Academic Achievement Awards, in its 12^th year, is a program that recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level.

31 University of Hawai`i Hilo student-athletes were on the list. To be eligible, the student-athlete must have an cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher, have attended their school a minimum of two years (four semesters), and have been an active member of their team during this past academic year (including redshirts).

The 31 UHH honorees is three more than the Vulcans had in 2017-18.

"We have been putting an emphasis on doing better in the classroom, and I feel like we are accomplishing that across the board," said Vulcan athletic director Patrick Guillen. "Our team GPA's are higher than they have ever been."

The D2 ADA in in its 55th year of operation, and presented this award to 11,660 student-athletes from 185 NCAA Division II institutions across the country. That represents the highest number of honorees in the history of the award.

"We have reinforced academics with the hiring of our first ever full-time academic advisor (Melanie Marciel) and formalized mandatory study hall policies which has aided our student-athletes greatly," Guillen added.

Here follows the 31 UH Hilo Vulcans honored for their work in the classroom in 2018-19.
Jaron Sugimoto, Baseball
Dylan Sugimoto, Baseball
Jordan Tagawa, Baseball
James Griffin, Men's Basketball
Evan Merrier, Men's Golf
Taylor Patrick, Men's Golf
Robert George, Men's Soccer
Christian Ohly, Men's Soccer
Selvin Sandoval, Men's Soccer
Arturo Dell`Eva, Men's Tennis
Gregory Zukeran, Men's Tennis
Billi Derleth, Softball
Markie Okamoto, Softball
Maria Steadmon, Softball
Darian Obara, Softball
Allie Navarette, Women's Basketball
Alyssa Movchan, Women's Basketball
Kim Schmelz, Women's Basketball
Sara Shimizu, Women's Basketball
Andi Igawa, Women's Golf
Keely Kitamura, Women's Golf
Maleni Avalos, Women's Soccer
Hedda Bjerklund, Women' Soccer
Bryanna-Marie Ebbers, Women's Soccer
Taylor Greenwood, Women's Soccer
Jaime Salas, Women's Soccer
Hailey Briseno, Women's Soccer
Blayne Shoffit, Women's Soccer
Lucee Fitzgerald, Volleyball
Ashton Jessee, Volleyball
Sandra Dafincescu, Women's Tennis