Widener has a total of 43 Academic All-America selections and five student-athletes have earned the award mutliple times. Kate L'Armand (cross country and track and field) earned the award five times, including four first team selections, and closed her career by being named the College Division Spring At-Large program's Academic All-America of the Year. Kristen Lane (cross country and track and field) is second on the list with three selections, including two straight first team selections, and Debbie Smuda (track and field), Justin Jones (men's lacrosse), Joe Dawkins (baseball), Brian Klick (cross country/track and field) and Robert Ward (cross country/track and field) earned two selections each. Widener has been among the recent national leaders of institutions with Academic All-America selections. During 1998-99 Widener had seven student-athletes named to Academic All-America teams, which was the second best total in college division (NCAA-II, III, NAIA) and fourth regardless of division. The Pioneers had five selections in both 1999-2000 and 2000-01. The five in 1999-2000 was the fifth highest total in the college division and ninth regardless of division and the five in 2000-01 was the fourth best in college division, seventh regardless of division. During 2001-02, Widener had six individuals selected to national teams, and that was again the fourth highest total in college division.

Widener's Academic All-America® Selections
Lou DeRogatis - Men's Basketball, 1982 4th Team
Susan Sobul - Volleyball, 1985 Honorable Mention
Chris Schilling - Baseball, 1990 3rd Team
Frank McGovern - Men's At-Large (track and field), 1992 1st Team
Deborah Smuda - Women's At-Large (track and field), 1992 3rd Team
Deborah Smuda - Women's At-Large (track and field), 1993 2nd Team
David Braksator - Football, 1994 2nd Team
Carrie Bassett - Women's Fall/Winter At-Large (swimming), 1996 1st Team
Kate L'Armand - Women's Spring At-Large (track and field), 1998 2nd Team
Kristin Weldon - Women's Spring At-Large (lacrosse), 1998 3rd Team
Justin Jones - Men's Spring At-Large (lacrosse), 1998 2nd Team
Brandon Richards - Football, 1998 1st Team
Joyce Johnson - Women's Basketball, 1999 3rd Team
Kate L'Armand - Women's Fall/Winter At-Large (cross country), 1999 1st Team
Andrea Nangle - Women's Fall/Winter At-Large (field hockey), 1999 2nd Team
Kate L'Armand - Women's Spring At-Large (track and field), 1999 1st Team
Carrie Miller - Women's Spring At-Large (track and field), 1999 3rd Team
Justin Jones - Men's Spring At-Large (lacrosse), 1999 2nd Team
Matt Witmer - Football, 1999 2nd Team
Kate L'Armand - Women's Fall/Winter At-Large (cross country), 2000 1st Team
Kate L'Armand - Women's Spring At-Large (track and field), 2000 1st Team
Kristen Lane - Women's Spring At-Large (track and field), 2000 3rd Team
Brian Klick - Men's Spring At-Large (track and field), 2000 3rd Team
Andrew Waxman - Football, 2000 2nd Team
Kristen Lane - Women's Fall/Winter At-Large (cross country), 2001 1st Team
Joe Dawkins - Baseball, 2001 3rd Team
Robert Ward - Men's Spring At-Large (track and field), 2001 2nd Team
Kristen Lane - Women's Spring At-Large (track and field), 2001 1st Team
T.J. Hess - Football, 2001 1st Team
Joe Dawkins - Baseball, 2002 1st Team
Shamus Keeler - Men's At-Large (swimming), 2002 2nd Team
Jennifer Garell - Women's At-Large (field hockey), 2002 2nd Team
Brian Klick - Men's Cross Country/Track and Field, 2002 2nd Team
Robert Ward - Men's Cross Country/Track and Field, 2002, 2nd Team
Kristin Hanson - Women's At-Large (field hockey/lacrosse), 2003 2nd Team
Tim McGarrigan - Men's At-Large (golf), 2003 2nd Team
Jason Delozier - Men's Soccer, 2003 3rd Team
Jason Delozier - Men's Soccer, 2004 2nd Team
Jamie Schild - Baseball, 2005 1st Team
Doug Schlack - Football, 2005 1st Team
Shannon Klick - Track & Field, 2006 3rd Team
Rachel Chizmadia - Volleyball, 2007, 2nd Team
Becky Rohrbaugh - Volleyball, 2007, 2nd Team

Joe Dawkins, Baseball, 2001 3rd Team and 2002 1st Team
Dawkins became Widener's fifth student-athlete in school history to earn Academic All-America honors twice in his career. He earned both his selections as an infielder. He graduated with a 3.75 cumulative grade point average in sport management and was one of 11 juniors of 33 student-athletes selected to one of the three teams in 2001. Dawkins was selected to the Commonwealth Conference All-Star Team three times in his career, including two first team selections as a first baseman. He hit a team-best .406 during his senior year and helped lead the Pioneers to four straight 20-win seasons, playing at first base and being among the team's top pitchers in the starting rotation. He was named to the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Academic Team three times in his career and was a member of Widener's student-athlete advisory, APICS Management and the Sport Management Committees.

JENNY GARELL, Women's At-Large (Field Hockey), 2002 2nd Team
Garell graduated with a 3.85 cumulative grade point average in International Business/Finance with a minor in Spanish. She was selected as the athletic department's co-recipient of the Most Outstanding Senior Athlete Award. The team's captain as a junior and senior, Garell received the team's Most Valuable Player award at the conclusion of the field hockey season. She closed her career in the fall 2001 as one of the greatest players in school history and holds a total of seven individual game, season and career records. The team also set numerous school records, including a school record 11 wins. Garell has been named to the Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth All-Star Team all four years, including three-straight first team selections, and is a three-time selection to the conference's and the National Field Hockey Coaches' Association All-Academic Teams. A consistent member of the University's Dean's List, Garell was a member of both the Honors Program in General Education and the School of Business Administration. She was inducted for membership in Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Chi, Beta Gamma Sigma and Beta Alpha Psi Honor Societies. She was active in the campus community, serving as secretary, president and vice-president and treasurer of the Panhellinc Association and previously served as President and Vice President of Operations for Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority. Garell was a student academic mentor and member of CREW, Widener's orientation team, served as President of the Money Club, has served on the University's Alcohol and Other Drug Task Force, has been a Special Olympics coordinator and a member of the Greek Judicial Board.

T.J. HESS, Football, 2001 1st Team
Academic All-America of the Year
Hess became the 29th student-athlete in school history and fifth football player to earn Academic All-America honors. He is also just the sixth student-athlete and second football player to earn first team honors. Hess, who carries a 4.0 cumulative grade point average in accounting, was one of 16 recipients, nationwide, regardless of NCAA Division, of a National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame postgraduate scholarship worth $18,000. Hess is the only Division III recipient of the award. He has also been recognized as one of 10 finalists for the Gagliardi Trophy for excellence in athletics, academics and service. He was also named to the 2000 and 2001 Middle Atlantic Conference All-Star First Team and to the 2000 Eastern College Athletic Conference All-Star First Team and the 2001 Honorable Mention squad. During the two years Hess helped anchor the defense, playing from his cornerback position, the Pioneers had a record of 24-3, two Middle Atlantic Conference championships, and advanced to the national semifinals in 2000 and the national quarterfinals in 2001. During 2001, Hess, one of the team's tri-captains, made 156 tackles, 93 of which were solo, seven for losses of 26 yards, five interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, 18 pass break ups and a forced and recovered fumble.

JOYCE JOHNSON, Women's Basketball, 1999 3rd Team
Johnson became Widener's 13th Academic All-America selection and second honoree during the 1998-99 academic year. Johnson, who was named a finalist for the 1999 Jostens Trophy for Division III Player of the Year at February's end, had a 3.809 cumulative grade point average in accounting with a minor in management information systems. Johnson led the team in scoring for the fourth straight year, averaging 14.6 points per game, and tallied double figures in the scoring column 20 times. A starter in 92 of 95 career games, she registered double figures 70 times in her career. The three-time captain became the sixth player in the program's history to score 1,000 career points (accomplished as a junior) and she graduated with 1,359 points, the third highest total in school history. She set a school record in 1998-99 with 54 three pointers and is second all-time with 114 career treys. A two-time team Most Valuable Player, Johnson was three-times selected to the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Academic Team and was named to the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Star Second Team in both 1997 and 1999. Johnson, who received academic honors during all her semesters at Widener, was a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon Economic Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, Alpha Lamda Phi Accounting Honor Society and Beta Gamma Sigma Business and Management Honor Society. She also belonged to the Accounting Society and the Association of Information Technology Professionals. She was also the woman's recipient of the George A. Hansell, Jr. Scholar-Athlete Award.

JUSTIN JONES, Men's At-Large (Lacrosse), 1998 and 1999 2nd Team
A Dean's List student and a three-time selection to the Middle Atlantic All-Academic Team, Jones had a 3.614 cumulative grade point average in mechanical engineering. Jones was named to the Academic All-America team twice in his career, becoming the third Widener student-athlete to earn the selection more than once. He was named to the all-district team as a sophomore. An attack player on Widener's four-time Middle Atlantic Conference championship team, Jones was named one of the Most Outstanding Senior Male Athletes and was the team's Most Valuable Player for three straight seasons. He was also the male recipient of the George A. Hansell, Jr. Scholar-Athlete Award. He graduated holding school records for assists in a game (9 - set three times in his career, twice in 1998 and once in 1999), season (61, 1998) and career (199), and points in a game (13, 1999) and career (277). In addition to Jones' school records, the Pioneers won 22 straight Middle Atlantic Conference games (never lost a conference game in four years) and tied a school record with 13 wins, including a school record seven straight. Jones played in the annual North-South All-Star game and was named one of 17 players, regardless of NCAA Division, named as a United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Scholar All-Americas. He was the recipient of the Dr. Leo Blumberg Memorial Award, Nadig Scholarship, and American Society of Mechanical Engineers Philadelphia Chapter Scholarship. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Society of Automotive Engineers, American Helicopter Society (Vice-President), and Campus Crusade for Christ (Vice-President).

SHAMUS KEELER, Men's At-Large (Swimming), 2002 2nd Team
Keeler graduated with a 3.677 cumulative grade point average in biology/pre-med. He was selected as the recipient of Widener's sportsmanship award, selected by the University's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Keeler was part of three Middle Atlantic Conference championship teams as the swim team won the titles during his freshman, junior and senior seasons, running Widener's streak to seven conference titles in a nine-year span. He was also part of Widener's first undefeated swim team in school history as the Pioneers posted a dual meet record of 10-0 during the 2001-02 season. Keeler served as a team captain as a junior and senior, and emerged on Widener's list of all-time performers in the 1000 and 1650 freestyles. A three-time selection to the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Academic Team, Keeler was a consistent member on the University's Dean's List. He has received the Science Division Award and has been inducted into Beta Beta Beta Biology, Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Chi Honor Societies. He was a member of the Pre-Med Society, served as a resident assistant, was a student academic mentor and part of Widener's LEAD, a leadership education and development program.

BRIAN KLICK, Men's Fall/Winter At-Large (Track and Field), 2000 3rd Team; Men's Cross Country/Track and Field, 2002 2nd Team
Klick graduated in May 2001 with a 3.802 cumulative grade point average in psychology/secondary education and continued at Widener as a graduate student in counseling education where he maintained a 4.00 grade point average. Forced to sit out the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons as a senior with a knee injury, he helped lead the Pioneers to its sixth straight Middle Atlantic Conference indoor title in 2002 where he was a finalist in the 5000. Klick also won a silver medal at the 2000 outdoor championships held at Widener in May 2000 in the 10,000-meter run and was a top six finisher in the 5,000-meter run the following day. Klick has recorded multiple 4.00 semester grade point averages in six semesters. A member of the University's Honors Program, he was inducted into Phi Eta Sigma, Psi Chi Psychology and Alpha Chi Overall Scholarship Honor Societies. Klick was selected to the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Academic Team three times each as a member of the cross country, and indoor and outdoor track and field teams.

KRISTEN LANE, Women's Fall/Winter At-Large (Cross Country), 2001 1st Team; Women's Spring At-Large (Track and Field), 2001 1st Team and 2000 3rd Team
Lane was only the second sophomore in school history to earn Academic All-America honors. She graduated in May 2001 after only thre years as the class valedictorian with a perfect grade point average (4.00) in psychology. She has earned three straight Academic All-America selections, including two straight first team honors and is the second all-time in school history in the number of selections to a national team. A member of the cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field teams, Lane ran of leg of the school record holding distance medley relay team, set at the conclusion of the 2000 indoor season, and was a finalist in the 5,000-meter at the indoor track and field championships. Lane was selected as the cross country team's Most Valuable Runner in 1998 and has been one of the team's top runners the last three years. She is a member of the President's List and has been selected to the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Academic Team for each sport during her sophomore and junior campaigns. Lane is a member of Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, is a peer academic coach, tutor and has conducted independent research study with professors on campus.

KATE L'ARMAND
2000 Academic All-America of the Year, Women's Spring At-Large
Women's Fall/Winter At-Large (Cross Country), 1999 and 2000 1st Team
Women's Spring At-Large (Indoor/Outdoor Track and Field), 1999 and 2000 1st Team, 1998 2nd Team
L'Armand was just one of three sophomores selected to the national team as a sophomore and was twice named to the first team as a junior and twice named to the first team as a senior for two different programs. L'Armand Widener's most decorated women athlete in school history. The 2000 magna cum laude graduate and salutatorian, was a three sport athlete, running cross country in the fall and indoor and outdoor track and field in the winter and spring, respectively. She graduated with a 3.990 in pre-med with a major in Psychology and minors in German and Biology and will attend medical school through the early-decision Crozer-Chester Honors program. L'Armand won MVP honors four straight years in outdoor track and field and was the recipient of the University's Most Outstanding Athlete as a senior. She is the school record holder in the 800, mile, and 4x400 and 4x800 relays indoor and the school record holder in the 1500 and 4x400 relay outdoors. She has won seven Middle Atlantic Conference indoor and outdoor individual and relay titles and numerous other silver and bronze medals throughout her career. A President's List student throughout her career, L'Armand has recorded multiple 4.0 grade point averages throughout her career. She was selected to the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Academic Team nine times in her career (three times each for cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field). As an undergraduate she was a member of the Honors Program, elected to Phi Kappa Phi, the national honor society that recognizes outstanding scholarship in all academic disciplines and was a member of Phi Eta Sigma National Freshman, Pi Gamma Mu International Social Science, Psi Chi Psychology, Beta Beta Beta National Biological and Phi Beta Delta International Scholars Honor Societies. She won the 1998 Chemistry Award, has a certificate for German as a Foreign Language, served as a tutor for biology and chemistry and conducted numerous independent research projects. L'Armand was one of three finalists nationwide for the Walter Byers Scholarship and was the Division III female recipient of the ECAC Scholar-Athlete Award. L'Armand was the recipient of numerous awards during the graduation weekend in May, including the President's Award, George A. Hansell Scholar-Athlete Award, Pi Gamma Mu Award, College of Arts and Sciences Prize, Psychology Prize.

CARRIE MILLER, Women's Spring At-Large (Track and Field), 1999 3rd Team
Miller, a track and field athlete, had a 3.852 in Chemistry. Miller was the recipient of numerous awards at graduation, including the President's Award, which is presented to the outstanding senior who has demonstrated scholastic achievement and contributed to the campus community. Miller earned nine varsity letters in four years, including four letters each in indoor and outdoor track and field and one in volleyball as a freshman. She scored at every Middle Atlantic Conference championship meet and won a bronze medal at the 1999 outdoor championships in the discus. Miller, who received the 1999 Coaches' Award for dedication and inspiration, received nine varsity letters throughout her career (four each in indoor and outdoor track and field and volleyball as a freshman). She was named to the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Academic team six times throughout her career and she has been accepted into the Ph.D. program in Chemistry at the University of Maryland. Miller received the Analytical Chemistry Award, Science Division Award, Presidential Academic Scholarship, and Residential Scholarship. She was a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society (President), Alpha Chi and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Societies, and American Chemical Society (President). She was a Peer Academic Counselor, Orientation Leader, and Freshman Seminar Teaching Assistant.

ANDREA NANGLE, Women's Fall/Winter At-Large (Field Hockey), 1999 2nd Team
Nangle helped anchor a defense that recorded one shutout and held four others to just one goal during the 1998 field hockey season. The team was 7-12 overall, which nearly doubled the number of wins from the previous season. Nangle, a junior, started 16 of 17 games played in. A 3.9 student with a major in Pre-Physical Therapy with a major in Psychology, was twice named to the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Academic Team and to the Field Hockey Coaches Assocation All-Academic Team. She served as Vice President of the Student Government Association and President of the Psycholgoy Club, and was selected to Phi Eta Sigma and Psi Chi Honor Societies. She also participated in the Apple Conference for Promoting Drug and Alcohol Free Student-Athletes in 1998. A member of the University's Honors Program, Nangle was one of 12 students who were guaranteed admission into Widener's 3+3 Physical Therapy master's program when she entered the University in the fall of 1996. A student-athletic trainer, Nangle also lettered in lacrossse as a freshman. Nangle began masters course work in physical therapy during her senior year and due to academic scheduling requirements was unable to compete in field hockey. She continued as a student-athletic trainer and in 2000 received one of four Division III $5,000 Sears Directors' Cup Postgraduate Scholarships through the National Association of Collegiate Director of Athletics.

BRANDON RICHARDS, Football, 1998 1st Team
Richards, a linebacker on the 8-3 football team, was named the Division III male winner of the Woody Hayes National Scholar Athlete Award, presented annually to the outstanding man and woman in each of the three NCAA divisions for excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership. Richards, an English and Pre-Law major, had a cumulative grade point average of 3.967. A Presidential Academic Scholarship recipient, he became the University's second first team Academic All-America selection and first in football. He was also on of 10 Division III football players to be named a Burger King Scholar Athlete as the University received a $10,000 scholarship to the general scholarship fund in his name. Richards was selected to the 1998 Middle Atlantic Conference All-Star First Team after recording 67 tackles, of which 13 were solo and six for losses. He also had two pass breakups and one interception. Widener's defense set school records for sacks in 1998 with 73, Richards contributing 1.5. Widener's defense also led all Divisions against the run, holding the opposition to 31.4 yards per game. Richards served as a Varsity Scout Coach leader of Boy Scouts of America Troop 969 and served a full-time mission from 1993-95 for the Latter Day Saints Church, during which time he fed the homeless, taught stop smoking workshops, worked with inner-city youth, and provided service to hospitals and nursing homes. Following graduation, Richards began pursuing his law degree at Widener.

Robert Ward, Men's Spring At-Large, 2001 2nd Team, Men's Cross Country/Track and Field 2002 2nd Team
Ward graduated with a 3.763 cumulative grade point average with a double major in computer science and mathematics. He earned four varsity letters each in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field and has been part of four of six straight indoor and three outdoor Middle Atlantic Conference championship teams. Ward was a three-time conference champion in the 4x800-meter indoor relay team and won a silver medal in the 800 at the 2000 conference championships and a bronze at the 2001 and 2002 championships. He was also a three-time finalist in the 800-meter run during the outdoor championships and competed at this year's championships after recovering from a broken femur (leg) and suffering punctured lungs from broken ribs during a training run two months prior. One of the team's most improved runners throughout his career, Ward received the George Hansell Scholar-Athlete Award, for academic and athletic excellence at the University's Academic Awards ceremony prior to graduation. Ward has been selected to the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Academic Tem three times in all three sports, was selected as the conference's top winter scholar-athlete, and was inducted for membership in Phi Eta Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Chi Overall Scholarship Honor Societies. He has received the Science Award and was a math tutor and computer consultant for the University's Science Lab.

Andrew Waxman, Football, 2000 2nd Team
Waxman, a linebacker on Widener's national semifinal football team, carried a 3.782 cumulative grade point average in electrical engineering with a minor in computer network/data communication. He recorded 69 tackles, including 30 solo, four tackles for losses, two sacks, three interceptions, six pass break ups and forced and recovered a fumble. Both of Waxman's interceptions were at Moravian and he returned them for 51 and 49 yards, respectively, for touchdowns. His 100 yards in returns is a Middle Atlantic Conference record. A two-time selection to the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Academic Team, Waxman was a member of the Universiity's Honors program. He was named to the Dean's List every semester and serves as a Peer Academic Coach mentor and math tutor. He was the recipient of numerous academic scholarships and participated in New Jersey Governor Christine T. Whitman's Personal Responsibility Youth Summit.

KRISTIN WELDON, Women's At-Large (Lacrosse), 1998 3rd Team
Weldon, who graduated in May 1998 ranked third in her class, carried a grade point average of 3.922 in management with a minor in Spanish. A two-year captain of the lacrosse team, Weldon was named to the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Academic Team three times. She started in 15 games and scored one goal and assisted on one for two points during a 7-9 campaign for the Pioneers in 1998. She attended Widener University's School of Law, graduating in 2001. While a student, Weldon was on the President's Task Force on Drugs and Alcohol; Student Literary Journal Featured Artist; Rotaract Club, President; Career Advisement and Planning Services Student Advisory Board; Volunteer Big Friends Program; Philadelphia Chapter of Artists Equity; Among her numerous awards were the School of Business Administration Certificate of Honors; President's Award; Certificate of Advanced Honors in General Education; K.B. Brannon Award; Presidential Scholarship; Faculty Scholarship; Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society; Pi Gamma Mu International Social Science Honor Society; Alpha Chi National College Honor Scholarship Society; Sigma Beta Delta National Business Honor Society; Alpha Mu Gamma Foreign Language Honor Society; Omicron Delta Epsilon International Honor Society.

Matt Witmer, Football, 1999 2nd Team
Witmer carried a 3.672 cumulative grade point average in criminal justice with a certificate in accounting and a minor in sociology. The linebacker on the 6-4 Pioneer team was a starter in all 10 games and was third among linebackers in tackles with 63. He also had five sacks, 11 tackles for losses which was second on the team, and three pass break ups. He earned a spot on the Middle Atlantic Conference All-Academic Team for two straight years. Witmer was selected as the Eastern College Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week after helping Widener to a come-from-behind victory in the season-opener at F.D.U.-Madison. He registered a season-high 13 tackles, one sack, three tackles for losses and had one pass break up. A consistent member on the University's Dean's List, Witmer was a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society and was an active member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity where he served as Vice-President. He was active in the Reading is Fundamental program, Clean Up Chester and Interstate 95 Clean Up projects and volunteered for Special Olympics.