Brooklyn Heights, NY -- St. Francis College student-athletes junior Guram Nozadze (men's water polo), senior Nemanja Simonovic (men's water polo), and senior Campbell Bird (women's swimming/women's water polo) were inducted into the prestigious Duns Scotus Honor Society for academic and athletic excellence on Charter Day on April 27th.
The Duns Scotus Honor Society was founded in 1935 and it is named after the Blessed Duns Scotus, a Franciscan scholar and champion of Our Lady's Immaculate Conception.
Election to membership in the Society is based on scholastic standing, participation in extracurricular activities, evidence of loyalty to the ideals of St. Francis College and demonstration of a true Franciscan spirit.
"I am very excited about it and I am proud of myself,” Nozadze said. “I take this honor very seriously and I will do everything in my power to live up to its high standards.”
"I am very excited,” added Bird. “My hard work in swimming, water polo, the honors program, and school in general is paying off."
Balancing athletics and academics is not easy, especially being an international student or coming from another state.
"Guga", as Nozadze is known amongst his friends, is a native of the country of Georgia who came to the United States four years ago in order to get his college education and to play water polo for the Terriers. “I am a biology major and a chemistry minor; I want to be a pediatrician one day," Nozadze said. "I still have one more year at St. Francis but this summer I will begin applying to both U.S. and European medical schools. I am planning to continue with my studies right after I graduate."
Nozadze is a driver for the water polo team, who appeared on the squad that went to the NCAA Final Four in 2010. He is an active member of the Swedish National Team, and a member of the Eastern European Club, Economics and Finance Club, and the Pre-Medicine Club. Amazingly, he still has time to enjoy the perks of living in New York. "I love going to museums, walking around in the city, trying new food, going to concerts and theaters."
Bird is from the United States but is not a New York native. "I was born in Summit, New Jersey, lived in San Luis Obispo, California for seven years and then moved to St. Louis, Missouri before coming to school in New York. Just prior to college my family moved to Boston. Right now I consider my home in Boston,” Bird added.
Bird is majoring in English and will receive a minor in communications. She is an active member of the Honors Society, the women's swimming team, and was the co-captain of the Terriers' women's water polo squad this past season.
When asked what it meant for her to be inducted in the Duns Scotus Honor Society, Bird said: "It's an honor to be recognized, although I'm sure many more students could be members if they applied themselves. You have to be a well-rounded student at the college."
Bird expects to graduate this May 2012 and she is taking a year off to prepare her process of admission into the communications program at Northeastern. She aspires to a career in public speaking, media and public relations.
Charter Day celebrates the day in 1884 when St. Francis College was formally granted its Charter by New York State to grant degrees. It is a day when the College recognizes its brightest current students as well as other educators who uphold the high standards strived for within the College.