Bentley's Field Hockey Standout Jennifer Walker and Assumption's Tennis Standout James Newman Named 2004-2005 Scholar Athletes of the Year

South Easton, Mass. - Bentley College field hockey standout Jennifer Walker and men's tennis and golf standout James Newman of Assumption College have been named the 2004-2005 Northeast-10 Conference Male and Female Scholar-Athletes of the Year, respectively as selected by the Northeast-10 Faculty Athletic Representatives. The announcement was made by Northeast-10 Conference Commissioner David R. Brunk.

"I congratulate Jennifer Walker and James Newman on their achievements," Brunk said. "The Northeast-10 Conference takes pride in its strength academically and our winners epitomize the well-rounded student-athletes on our campuses who successfully integrate athletics and academics."

Walker is the second consecutive Bentley student-athlete to earn the award and Newman is the fourth representative from Assumption to be recognized since the award's induction in 1999-2000.

Walker, a Corporate Finance and Accounting major, posted a 3.96 grade point average while contributing to a Falcon field hockey program that collected an NCAA Division II national championship title in 2001 and two other appearances in the NCAA final during her four years. Walker, who helped Bentley to two Northeast-10 regular season titles and two NE-10 playoff championships during her career, is also a two-time NFHCA Division II All-America pick.

The Lyman, Maine native served twice as tri-captain and was the Northeast-10 Freshman of the Year in 2001. A four-time all conference honoree, Walker was recognized by ESPN the Magazine as a first team Academic All-America selection in 2005.

Walker's career totals of 29 goals and 81 points included nine goals and 27 points during her senior year. She never missed a game.

Bentley amassed a 77-15 record during Walker's four seasons, including a Division II record-tying 22-3 mark in 2004. She was third in team scoring in 2004 and named to the All-Tournament Team at NCAA Division II Championships. For her outstanding performances, Walker collected Northeast-10 Player of the Week honors twice.

"Jenn's hard work and dedication is the reason Bentley Field Hockey has been so successful during the past four years," said field hockey coach Kelly McGowan. "Jenn is an outstanding Bentley citizen and a wonderful person."

Walker reached the Presidents List each of her four years at Bentley and was a member of the Bentley Falcon Society, which is the highest honor bestowed on a Bentley undergraduate. She was the 2002-2003 ECAC Robbin's Division II Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year after her sophomore season and a three-time recipient of the team's Falcon Club Scholar-Athlete award. For her academic merit and her achievements on the field, NFHCA placed Walker on the Division II National Academic Squad each of the last three years.

Off the field, Walker was the secretary of SAAC and assisted in the classroom as a freshman seminar facilitator. She also contributed her knowledge to fellow classmates, serving as an accounting tutor.

"Jenn is a role model both in the classroom and on the field. I am proud and forever thankful that Jenn chose Bentley four years ago," McGowan said.

Most recently, Walker was honored with the Edward J. Powers Scholar Athlete Award as Bentley's outstanding senior student athlete. She has been tabbed to receive an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

Newman, a triple major in Accounting, Finance and Philosophy, graduated with a 3.91 grade-point average while studying the intense Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) curriculum on his own and has passed the first of three brutal exams.

Earlier this summer, Newman was named a second-team CoSIDA Academic All-American. In 2004, he earned third-team CoSIDA Academic All-American honors and was named the 2003-2004 ECAC Robbins Division II Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

"James is the bench mark for the academic athlete at Assumption," said tennis coach John Ippolito. "I say academic athlete because as phenomenal an athlete as he is, he's just above and beyond academically. He has set the standards for academics here."

On the court, the Johannesburg, South Africa native captained the 2004 and 2005 teams, leading the squad both years to conference championship and regular season titles. In his career Newman posted a singles record of 52-9 and a doubles record of 54-10. Newman's overall doubles mark places him fifth in the Greyhounds all-time record book.

Newman earned all conference honors four times during his tenure, three times as a first-team pick. This past spring, he finished his regular-season conference career as both an undefeated individual singles and doubles player, while helping his team improve its conference win streak to an amazing 89 straight. His overall record this season was equally impressive, he finished 13-1 in singles, primarily at the No. 4 position and 11-4 at No. 1 doubles.

Newman's efforts led to conference honors this past season including a two-time conference Player of the Week recipient and four weekly honor roll mentions.

He was named the winner of the Rev. Armand Desautels Memorial Award as the Greyhounds' premier senior male student-athlete. A Northeast-10 First Team pick the last three seasons in both Singles and Doubles, his team appeared in the NCAA regional in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005, extending a team mark of six straight.

With Newman, the Greyhounds won four regular-season and four post-season Northeast-10 Conference tournament titles.

He also played golf this past fall posting a team leading 79.8 medal average for eight rounds. He fired a season-low 73 in the second round of the ECAC tournament. His 78-79--157 was 18th in the Northeast-10 Conference championship in which the Greyhounds finished third.

During the summer months, Newman volunteers his time coaching children around the world. He has taught tennis to young children in Johannesburg and also in Jamaica.

Last September, Newman was appointed to address his peers, coaches and administrators for the College's annual athletic community gathering.

Newman graduated in May summa cum laude. Recently, Newman was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

He has already accepted a position with Ernst & Young in Boston. At this time, Newman is undecided where he will do his graduate studies.