Tuesday, May 29, 2007

For Immediate Release

[Click Here For Full Release]

South Easton, Mass. – Assumption College senior tennis player Matt Stopp (Altoona, Pa.) and Saint Michael’s College senior softball player Meggan Roberge (Sheldon Springs, Vt.) were named the 2006-2007 Northeast-10 Scholar-Athletes of the Year as selected by the Northeast-10 Faculty Athletic Representative (FAR) Council as announced by the Northeast-10 Conference Commissioner David Brunk.

Stopp and Roberge will also be in the running for the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association National Scholar-Athlete of the Year award sponsored by Disney Sports Attractions.

“I congratulate Matt Stopp and Meggan Roberge on their performance in the class room and the field of play,” Brunk said. “These two individuals epitomize the true definition of student-athlete and are excellent representatives of their respective institutions and the Northeast-10 Confernece.”

Stopp, a mathematics major and a member of the Dean’s list i n seven straight semesters, was named to the Northeast-10 Men’s Tennis All-Academic team three consecutive years (2004-2007) and has compiled an overall grade point average of 3.90. Stopp also earned a departmental Director’s Citation in all seven previous marking periods and was one of just three student-athletes at Assumption to post a 4.00 GPA in the fall semester. In addition, he was also named CoSida/ESPN Academic All-Region in 2005-06 and was named to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional All Academic (2005-2007).

"Matt Stopp is one of the premier student-athletes in our history,” said Director of Athletics Ted Paulauskas. “A superb student, he graduated among the leaders in his class, as a standout tennis player he served as a two-year captain and won over 95 percent of his matches on one of the most dominant teams in the conference. He is also a true gentleman and prototype to what we hope all Assumption College student-athletes will aspire."

On the court, Stopp has compiled a career record of 62-3 (42-1 NE-10) in singles play and 66-5 (42-1 NE-10) in doubles play. This season he finished 15-0 in singles action and 15-2 in doubles. A four-year All-Conference selection, Stopp helped lead the Greyhounds to a 65-4 record in the regular-season in his four-year career.

Off the court he is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, a Resident Assistant Perspective Leader and is part of the Natural High Program Organizer.

Roberge, an economics major and a mathematics minor, was named to the Dean’s list in each semester at Saint Michael’s. She has been a member of the Northeast-10 Softball All Academic team for the past three seasons. In addition, Roberge has been a Green Mountain Scholar (2003-2007) and was the recipient of the 2007 Victor V. LeMieux Award which is given to a Saint Michael’s athlete who displays outstanding loyalty and leadership both on and off the field of competition. She is also a member of the Omicron Delta Epsilon National Economics Honor Society and the Pi Mu Epsilon National Math Honor Society.

“I am very grateful to receive such a prestigious award,” Roberge said. “Being a student-athlete isn’t easy and it’s great to have awards like this one that reward all of the hard work and dedication it takes. I also think this award is a testament to the support I’ve been lucky to have from my family, friends and coaches.”

On the field, Roberge holds every Saint Michael’s pitching record and has been a Northeast-10 All Conference Selection for the past three seasons. The two-time Northeast-10 Pitcher of the Year (2005, 2007) led the conference in opponents batting average (.161), strikeouts (248), wins (19) and was second in the conference in earned run average (1.03) and innings pitched (196.1). In addition to her conference honors, Roberge also compiled regional honors as well. She was named the 2007 Daktronics Division II Northeast Region Pitcher of the Year and was named to the Division II All-Northeast Region First-Team.

“All of us at Saint Michael's College are thrilled that Meg is receiving this prestigious conference award,” Director of Athletics Geri Knortz said. “She is one of the finest examples of a true scholar-athlete, with exceptional performance both in the classroom and on the softball diamond. Meg is well deserving of this fine recognition.”

A member of the Student-Athlete Advisory committee along with being a Campus Judicial Affairs Representative, Roberge is also a member of the Economics Department Faculty Search Committee.

The Northeast-10 is one of the largest and is the most diverse NCAA Division II playing conference in the nation. It sponsors 23 championship sports including baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, football, field hockey, men’s golf, men’s ice hockey, men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s indoor track and field, women’s indoor track and field, men’s outdoor track and field, women’s outdoor track and field, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, softball, women’s volleyball, men’s swimming and diving, and women’s swimming and diving

Full Members of the Northeast-10 include American International College, Assumption College, Bentley College, Bryant University, Franklin Pierce College, Le Moyne College, The University of Massachusetts Lowell, Merrimack College, Pace University, Saint Anselm College, Saint Michael’s College, The College of Saint Rose, Southern Connecticut State University