Feb. 25, 2009

GREENVILLE, N.C. --- The East Carolina athletic department will recognize all its student-athletes and teams that achieved academic success during the past year at the men's basketball game against Marshall Wednesday night.

The women's golf and men's tennis teams will be recognized as the recipients of this year's Student Development Life Skills Award during the first half. The award is given annually to the team that best exemplifies a commitment to academics, community service and personal and career development by the student development office.

Student-athletes that earned a 3.00 grade point average (GPA) during the spring and fall semesters of 2008 will be introduced as Honor Roll students at halftime. Over 50 percent of ECU's student-athletes were named to the Honor Roll during the past calendar year.

The Conference USA Sport Academic Award teams will also be presented at halftime. The men's basketball, men's golf, softball and men's tennis teams all posted the highest GPA among all C-USA teams in their respective sports during the 2007-08 season.

During the second half, Hannah Priest (women's tennis) and Kelly Wernert (volleyball) will be recognized as Conference USA Scholar-Athlete Award winners. This award is presented to the top student-athlete in each conference-sponsored sport and is based upon academic and athletic achievement as well as service to the community.

Geoff Handsfield, a former member of the men's swimming team, was the recipient of one of 11 postgraduate scholarships awarded by Conference USA last season. Handsfield was a two-time Academic All-America selection.

Tip-off for the game between the Thundering Herd and Pirates is scheduled for 7 p.m.