San Jose, Calif. - San Jose State University recognized 147 student-athletes for success and excellence in the classroom at the 2011 Arm & Pat Hanzad Scholar-Athlete Celebration in the Event Center on Thursday, December 1.

Student-athletes who earned a cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale for the 2010-11 academic year were eligible for recognition from the University's athletics department.

"This event is one of our department's finest," Athletics Director Tom Bowen said.  "Seven years ago, when I arrived at San Jose State, we made a commitment to academic excellence.  I could not be prouder of what our athletes have accomplished in the classroom and on the field of play."

Of the 147 Scholar-Athletes, 106 also received academic All-Conference honors from the Western Athletic Conference or the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. These Scholar-Athletes maintained a 3.00 or better cumulative grade-point average and participated in at least 50 percent of their team's contests during the academic year.

Darci Anderson of the swimming and diving team; and Kelly Stewart, water polo, were cited as the five female student-athletes with the highest grade-point average. Basketball player Wil Carter; Luis Esparza, cross country, Blake McFarland, baseball, Nick Murphy, soccer and Joey Ruth, football, registered the top-five grade-point averages among the six men's sports teams. Four of the ladies and one of the men have a cumulative grade-point average above 3.9.

Football player Robbie Reed was cited for exemplary success as a graduate student who participated in intercollegiate athletics last year.Shanice HowardKarlene Simon, gymnastics; Lauren Shanks, softball; and

Gymnastics' Howard and Lily Swann; women's cross country runner Morgan Hancock; swimmers Caitlin Macky, Meghan McCurley and Kirsten Trammell; football player Braden Storaasli; Jason Martin and Danny Steinstra of baseball; Alan Shelton, men's cross country; Lauren Ng-Pinkerton of women's soccer; women's golfers Katrina Delen-Briones and Linda Thai and water polo's Alyssa Friesen were named recipients of the Arm & Pat Hanzad Awards for earning scholar-athlete status in each of their four or five years as San Jose State University students.

The gymnastics team received the Order of Sparta Team GPA Award for the highest combined team grade-point average for the fall and spring semesters. Gymnastics and baseball were cited as the best academic women's and men's teams and received the Athletics Board's Best Academic Performance Awards. The women's golf, tennis, water polo, women's cross country, volleyball, women's soccer and swimming teams received honorable mention recognition for team grade-point averages above 3.00 each semester.

Gymnastics received the Athletics Board's Most Improved Academic Performance Award.

The Athletics Board named volleyball head coach Oscar Crespo and women's soccer assistant coach Craig Winans Head Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year, respectively.