University to hold Eagle Scholars Ceremony, celebrate program’s growth

^{Student-athletes who qualify academically receive the Eagle Scholars patch to wear on their uniforms during regular season competition.}

(August 22, 2014)– Carson-Newman University is touting a successful first year for its Eagle Scholars Program, one that has succeeded expectations. It is a point that will be made during the second annual Eagle Scholars Ceremony on Aug. 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Jefferson City’s First Baptist Church. The event is open to the public.

The Eagle Scholars Program recognizes academic achievements among Carson-Newman student-athletes. Carson-Newman is the only school in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) to have such a program. To become an Eagle Scholar, student-athletes must have a GPA of 3.25 or higher.

Following an inaugural membership of 72, the program this year will honor 93 students during its ceremony as qualified Eagle Scholars. The number represents a 29 percent increase in its first year, but doesn’t tell the whole story, according to Gloria Walker, Carson-Newman’s academic success coach and athletic liaison, who says the number speaks volumes for the program’s future.

“We actually lost a lot of our Eagle Scholars to graduation [at the end of last year], but we still increased our numbers,” explained Walker, who spearhead the effort along with colleague Amy Humphrey in establishing Eagle Scholars. “The program has really blossomed,” said Walker. “It’s turned into something where the kids are starting to compete. It has become something that the students have really bought into in a short amount of time and has really taken off.” She also gives credit to the support of Athletics Director Allen Morgan for his support of the initiative.

Walker says that though the SAC conference honors academic success through its Commissioner’s Honor Roll, the thought was for the University itself to recognize the achievement of its student-athletes. “We wanted to do something on the local level and really bring attention to that ‘hey, our kids get it done on the field and the court, but we want people to know what they do in the classroom.”

Along with being honored at the ceremony, Eagle Scholars also receive a patch to wear on their uniforms during the regular season competition.

The featured speaker for the Aug. 28 ceremony will be Nick Reveiz, Carson-Newman running backs coach and former Tennessee Vols linebacker.