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Somerset, NJ -- One student-athlete apiece from Central Connecticut State, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis (NY) and Saint Francis (PA) comprise the 2007-08 NEC Winter Scholar-Athlete award winners. Of the five recipients, four are repeat honorees. In addition to the Scholar-Athletes, the NEC also announced its winter academic honor roll, consisting of 382 student-athletes. All Scholar-Athlete award winners must have earned a minimum of 60 semester hours, maintained a minimum cumulative grade-point-average of 3.20 and participated with distinction as a member of a varsity team.

Sacred Heart senior guard Drew Shubik (Stoystown, PA/North Star) earns his second straight men’s basketball Scholar-Athlete honor. Shubik was named second team All-Conference after leading the Pioneers to their second consecutive NEC championship game appearance. A terrific all-around performer, he averaged 11.0 points and ranked first on the team with 5.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Shubik finished the season third in the NEC in steals and fourth in assists. In Sacred Heart’s quarterfinal playoff win over Central Connecticut State, he became the 25th player in school history and fourth at the Division I level to score 1,000 career points. The Stoystown, PA native netted 1,029 points in his four years and also recorded 441 assists and a program record 200 steals. He ranks seventh at Sacred Heart and 25th in NEC annals in career assists. Shubik, who was named to the ESPN The Magazine District I Academic All-America team, is a Sports Management major. He carries a 3.59 grade point average.

St. Francis (NY) senior center Katja Bavendam (Hambergen, Germany/Gymnasium Oszterholz-Scharmbeck) makes it back-to-back NEC Scholar-Athlete honors in women’s basketball. Despite battling injuries, Bavendam averaged 11.0 points as well as team-highs with 8.3 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. Her 52 rejections - including a single-game school record nine against Fairleigh Dickinson on February 23rd - ranked third in the conference and boosted her career-total to a school record 236. Bavendam also became the 11th player in St. Francis history to reach the 1,000-point plateau and closed out her career with 1,147 points. Her 723 career rebounds place her seventh on the Terriers’ all-time list. Bavendam, a Hambergen native who competed on Germany’s Under-20 National Team, is a seven-semester member of the Dean’s List who attends St. Francis (NY) on an endowed academic scholarship. She is a member of the school’s Student-Athlete Advisory Board and has participated in various community service projects as a member of the women’s basketball team. Bavendam carries a perfect 4.00 grade point average majoring in Information Technology.

Central Connecticut State senior Lindsey Snyder (Winterport, ME/Bangor) claims NEC Scholar-Athlete accolades in women’s swimming for the second year in a row. A two-time team captain, she was named the Outstanding Swimmer at the 2008 NEC Championships in February after sparking the Blue Devils to their second NEC title. Snyder won her fourth consecutive 200 backstroke title in a conference record-breaking time of 2:01.43. She set another meet record in winning the 100 backstroke (57.02) for the third time and captured the 200 individual medley (2:07.04). In total, the Winterport, ME product won eight NEC individual championships over the course of her career. Snyder would go on to win the 100 backstroke (56.96) at the ECAC Championships for the second time, and finished third in both the 200 backstroke and 200 individual medley to total a team-best 52 points and lead CCSU to its first-ever ECAC crown. Over the course of the season, she broke three school records (100 back, 200 back, 200 IM). A two-time College Swim Coaches of America Association Academic All-America, Snyder is an Elementary Education major with a 3.82 grade point average.

Robert Morris senior Jeff Witmyer (West Lawn, PA/Wilson) is the recipient of his second consecutive NEC Scholar-Athlete award in men’s indoor track and field. Witmyer successfully defended his high jump title at the 2008 NEC Championships in February with a leap of 6’10 3/4" He went on to earn All-East Coast honors with a second place finish at the IC4A/ECAC Championships with an identical mark of 6’10 3/4". Witmyer, who hails from West Lawn, PA, is a member of an integrated system at Robert Morris in which he will earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Information Sciences and Master’s Degree in Information Security and Assurance. He carries a 3.74 grade point average.

Saint Francis (PA) senior Lisa Morse (Freedom, NY/Pioneer Central) collects NEC Scholar-Athlete accolades in women’s indoor track and field. One of the most decorated throwers in school history, Morse is a three-time NEC individual champion and eight-time All-NEC first or second team honoree. She concluded her indoor career by winning the NEC shot put title for the second time with a 48’ 1 1/4" toss, then finished fifth at the ECAC Championships with a 46 3 1/4" measurement. Morse also finished fourth at the NEC championship meet in the weight throw (51’ 0"). Morse maintains a 3.63 grade point average majoring in Biology/Marine Biology.

2007-08 Northeast Conference Winter Scholar-Athletes

Sport 		   Name		  School 		   Cl  GPA   Major
Men’s Basketball     Drew Shubik	  Sacred Heart	   Sr  3.59  Sports Management 
Women’s Basketball   Katja Bavendam	  St. Francis (NY)	   Sr  4.00  Information Technology 
Women’s Swimming     Lindsey Snyder	  CCSU		   Sr  3.82  Elementary Education 
Men’s Indoor Track   Jeff Witmyer	  Robert Morris	   Sr  3.74  Information Systems 
Women’s Indoor Track Lisa Morse	  Saint Francis (PA) Sr  3.63  Biology/Marine Biology