University of North Carolina Athletics
Tar Heels Recognized For Academic Success
March 9, 2015 | Field Hockey, Academics
North Carolina is among 66 Division I field hockey programs recognized Monday as recipients of the SGI/NFHCA Division I National Academic Team Award for 2014. The honor, awarded by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, goes to teams that achieve an in-season (fall) semester grade point average of 3.0 or better.
It marked the third year in a row that UNC has won the award and the sixth consecutive term that the team's semester GPA has been above 3.0. (The award recognizes fall semester performance only.) The team's cumulative GPA also is above a 3.0 and has been so for four consecutive semesters.
The team's academic leaders for the fall were Kristy Bernatchez, Blissie Du Bose, Nina Notman and Loren Shealy, all of whom earned Dean's List honors. Bernatchez is a sophomore from Belgrade, Maine, who is majoring in exercise and sport science. Du Bose is a sophomore academically (a redshirt freshman in athletic eligibility) from Charlottesville, Va., who is majoring in journalism. Notman is a junior from Hamburg, Germany, who is majoring in psychology. And Shealy is a senior from Charlotte, N.C., who is majoring in business administration.
“I applaud Kristy, Blissie, Nina and Loren for setting the standard this fall,” UNC coach Karen Shelton said. “The award is a nice honor for our whole team and it's my expectation that we'll continue to exceed that mark. Throughout my career I've found there to be a high correlation between academic and athletic performance – the teams that are the best in one area also are the best in the other. We want to continue to improve and excel in both areas.”
