April 16, 2010

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Three members of the South Carolina cross country team were awarded with academic honors and scholarships Thursday at the University Awards Day. Sophomores Erin Fedewa and Nicole Rheinlander and freshman Sara Hartley each earned separate awards for academic achievement.

Fedewa was recognized with two honors, one by the University of South Carolina Marine Science Department and the other by a national scholarship foundation. The first honor was the Traci Heincelman Memorial Scholarship given to a rising junior in marine science at South Carolina who “best epitomizes the Marine Science Program via academic excellence, research and volunteerism.” Fedewa was also awarded the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Earnest F. Hollings scholarship. The national scholarship provides a 10-week, full-time internship position during the summer at a NOAA facility.

Rheinlander was presented with the Hoechst Scholarship in German Studies at the University Awards Day. The scholarship is given to a German major or minor who has attained a high level of proficiency in the four skills of reading, speaking, listening and writing.

Hartley received the Phi Beta Kappa Freshman Scholarship Award, which is presented to students who achieve a 4.00 GPA during their freshman year. Recipients must have taken a minimum of 15 credit hours each semester over their freshman year.

All three runners were members of the South Carolina cross country team that recently earned its ninth consecutive USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honor. Coach Stan Rosenthal’s team posted a cumulative GPA of 3.64 in the fall semester, a mark that ranked 11th in the nation.