Butler's Howard, Loyola's Staton Honored as U.S. Army Scholar-Athletes of the Week

Dec. 12, 2008

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INDIANAPOLIS -- Butler University sophomore basketball player Matt Howard and Loyola University Chicago senior distance runner Pam Staton have been named U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week for the week ending Dec. 7, League commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Friday (Dec. 12).


Howard (Connersville, Ind./Connersville) averaged 15 points and eight rebounds per game last week as Butler opened the League schedule with back-to-back wins at Cleveland State University (50-48) and Youngstown State University (79-71). He matched his career high with 23 points and added nine rebounds against YSU, which kept the Bulldogs undefeated on the season.


In the classroom, Howard carries a 3.63 grade-point average as a finance major. He was named to Butler's Athletic Director's Honor Roll as a freshman.


Staton (Ingleside, Ill./Grant Community) won both the mile (5:04.93) and 3,000-meter (10:27.52) runs at the Early Bird Open hosted by Illinois State University on Dec. 6.


A psychology major, Staton owns a 3.6 grade-point average and has been named to the Horizon League's Academic Honor Roll during her career.


The Horizon League instituted the U.S. Army Scholar-Athlete of the Week awards as a way to recognize outstanding academic and athletic achievement by its student-athletes. To be eligible for the honor, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 or better (on a 4.00 scale), have completed at least one year at the member institution, passed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours and perform well during the week's competition. Winners are selected by a group of League faculty athletic representatives, from nominations provided by sports information directors.

OTHER MEN'S NOMINEES:
Jake Diebler, Valparaiso (basketball, senior, 3.57, marketing)
Erik Hernandez, Loyola (indoor track and field, senior, 3.83, biology)
Robo Kreps, UIC (basketball, sophomore, 3.43, exercise and fitness)
Pat Liederbach, Detroit (indoor track and field, sophomore, 3.41, education)

OTHER WOMEN'S NOMINEES:
Molly Finn, Milwaukee (swimming and diving, senior, 3.252, journalism & mass communication)
Celeste Hoewisch, Green Bay (basketball, sophomore, 3.34, human biology)
Rachel Majercik, Valparaiso (swimming and diving, junior, 3.27, accounting)