Tusculum's Cooper, Mars Hill's Viscusi Named South Atlantic Conference Cross Country Scholar-Athletes of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Tusculum's David Cooper was voted the South Atlantic Conference men's cross country Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while Jessica Viscusi from Mars Hill picked up the women's cross country honor, the League announced today.  The pair earned the honor for their achievements in academics, athletics, service and leadership.

The South Atlantic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award is presented annually to one student-athlete in each of the Conference's championship sports, and is voted on by the SAC's Faculty Athletic Representatives Committee.

Cooper, a senior biology pre-medicine major, carries a perfect 4.0 GPA.  He is a two-time Capital One Academic All-American and has been named to the Dean's and President's list every year at Tusculum.  A three-time South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree, Cooper earns the South Atlantic Conference cross country Scholar-Athlete of the Year award for the second-straight season.

Cooper has been the Pioneers' top runner since stepping foot on campus, earning NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region plaudits twice in his career.  He is also just the third runner in Tusculum history to earn All-Conference honors in back-to-back seasons.  He owns 10 of the top 25 times in program history, including a career-best 26:02.63, a time he turned in at the Greater Louisville Classic.  A four-time team captain, he has been tabbed the Pioneers' Most Valuable Player three-straight years.

In the community, he has participated in the Nettie Day of Service every year at Tusculum.  He also organized and coordinated the Make-A-Wish 5K which raised $1,600.00.  He has spent 500 hours as a peer tutor and has served as a summer camp counselor at the Greene County YMCA.  Cooper also coached in the Tusculum Couch to 4-Mile Program in each of the past three seasons. 

Cooper is also very active on the Tusculum campus.  He has served as an officer on the Tusculum Student-Athlete Advisory Council and led the organization in raising $3,200.00 for Make-A-Wish.  Cooper serves on the Tusculum Athletic Judicial Board and has twice earned the Tusculum Duffield Academic Award, which is presented to the TC top student-athlete during the year.  He is a member of the Alpha Chi National Honor Society and is a member of the Tusculum President's Society.  He was the highest ranked junior academically and currently works with Dr. Richard Thompson on Leishmaniasis drug development research.

Viscusi, a senior chemistry major, is a three-time Dean's List and SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree.  She has earned the Marshbanks-Anderson Honor Scholarship all four years at Mars Hill and currently serves as the Vice President of the Chemistry Club.  Viscusi has twice been named to the United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team.

A three-time All-South Atlantic Conference honoree, Viscusi has qualified as an individual to the NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championship in each of the past two seasons.  She owns the second and third fastest 5K times in Mars Hill history and won the Catawba Invitational this past season with a time of 19:47.  Viscusi was an AstroTurf SAC Runner of the Week selection three times this past season and has served as a team captain in both her junior and senior seasons.

Viscusi has also made a big impact in her community.  She has served as a community crisis ministry counselor in the Asheville area and was a day camp volunteer at the Swain County recreation department.  She has served as a volunteer with the Madison County food drive, backpack program and "Day of Service".  Viscusi has also helped coordinate various middle school and high school track meets.

At Mars Hill, she is the Student Government Association senior class Treasurer and Secretary and is the Vice President of the Mars Hill Chemistry Honor Club.  Viscusi is also a three-time Bonner Scholar recipient.

Other Men's Cross Country Nominees:
Dylan Bates, Coker
Derek Gibson, Mars Hill
Austin Greeson, Wingate