Wingate’s Amber Hines Named Academic All-American
TOWSON, Md. -- Wingate University senior cross country student-athlete Amber Hines (Little Mountain, S.C.) has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® women's cross country/track & field first team (college division), selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). A Biology and Chemistry double major with a perfect 4.00 GPA, Hines completes an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® triple crown with this announcement. Hines is a three-time Academic All-America® selection (third team in 2007, first team in 2008 and 2009).
Hines is the first Wingate women's cross country student-athlete to earn ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® laurels three years in a row. Previous women's cross country Academic All-America® honorees include Kelli Miller (third team, 2002) and Sarah Utz (third team, 2005).
"Amber Hines is the definition of what a Wingate cross country team member should aspire to become...she utilizes a silent leadership and leads by example," Wingate head cross country coach Dr. Dennis Johnson says. "In the classroom, she sets the standard by maintaining the highest grades possible. In practice, she sets the standard by demonstrating the strongest work ethic."
Amber Hines is a four-time All-South Atlantic Conference
performer. In 2008, she posted six top-10 finishes. Her top 2008
times were a 19:48 (5K) and a 24:29 (6K). Hines finished second at
the Greensboro Invitational with a 5K time of 20:19 (Sept. 27).
In 2007, Hines led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Division II national championship meet at Missouri Southern State University. Wingate placed second in the 2007 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional race (at Wingate) to earn the trip to nationals. The Bulldogs also won the 2007 Food Lion SAC championship meet.
As a junior, Hines recorded three top-five finishes in 2007. Her top 2007 times included an 18:47 5K (pre-national meet, Sept. 15) and a 25:30 6K (NCAA regional meet, Nov. 3). A three-time team MVP, Hines placed second at the 2006 NCAA regional meet (23:38 6K) to earn an individual spot in the national championship race.
Hines was SAC Runner of the Year in 2006, winning the Food Lion SAC championship meet with a 19:39 5K time. She had three first-place finishes during her sophomore season. She was an All-Southeast Region runner the same year.
A frequent volunteer at a local animal hospital, Hines hopes to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. Hines won the SAC Scholar-Athlete Award two times. The SAC Scholar-Athlete Award is presented to one athlete from each of the conference's 14 sport programs. The award honors student-athletes who represent a combination of athletic skill, academic achievement and participation in community service and leadership activities.
Since January 1, 2000, Wingate University has produced 34 Academic All-America® selections. Wingate is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000's with its 34 honorees during this millennium.
Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time frame. Wingate's 43 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among schools affiliated with the South Atlantic Conference.
The Academic All-America® program annually honors over 1600 student-athletes who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.
Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America® honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA. The program covers all NCAA championship sports.
Student-athletes selected for Academic All-America® honors must be a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic credentials. She must possess at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.00 scale). She must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing and must have completed at least one full academic year at her institution. Student-athletes are nominated by their sports information directors.
ESPN The Magazine - winner of the 2006 and 2003 National Magazine Award for General Excellence - is a provocative and innovative sports publication. Full of insight, analysis, impact and wit, the oversized bi-weekly with a circulation of 1.9 million looks ahead to give fans a unique perspective on the world of sports.
For more information about the Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com.
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of 2,129 students, offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, international study, faith development, career discovery and community service.
Wingate offers 40 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers graduate degrees in business, education, physical education, physician assistant studies, sport administration and the doctor of pharmacy degree.
Bulldog student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past three years.
2009 ESPN THE MAGAZINE
Academic All America®
Women's Cross Country/Track & Field Team (College
Division)
FIRST TEAM
Kristen Ameling, Tiffin (Ohio)
Hannah Baker, Wartburg (Iowa)
Keli Coleman, Augustana (Ill.)
Mary Dell, Shippensburg (Pa.)
Katy Grant, Harding (Ark.)
Jennifer Hensel, Minnesota State-Moorhead
Charlotte Heron, Oklahoma Christian
Amber Hines, Wingate
Liz Kooistra, Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Jessica Koster, Calvin (Mich.)
Nora Kuiper, Hope (Mich.)
Venessa Lee, Pittsburg State (Kan.)
Amy Magnuson, MIT
Katie Theisen, St. Thomas (Minn.)
Sarah Wittingen, Calvin (Mich.)
SECOND TEAM
Isabel Alexander, Bates (Maine)
Nikki Arola, St. Thomas (Minn.)
Courtney Ayers, Southwest Baptist (Mo.)
Maddie Coffman, Willamette (Ore.)
Jennifer Harpp, Slippery Rock (Pa.)
Ashley Huston, Hardin-Simmons (Texas)
Cathryn Lariviere, Emmanuel (Mass.)
Amber Lowe, Texas Lutheran
Caitlin Mullarkey, Swarthmore (Pa.)
Anat Ben Nun, Brandeis (Mass.)
Jessica Pixler, Seattle Pacific
Caitlin Schetter, Wisconsin-La Crosse
Lisa Shepherd, Richard Stockton (N.J.)
Elise Tropiano, Amherst (Mass.)
Heather Wood, Adams State (Colo.)
THIRD TEAM
Erin Beattie, Seton Hill (Pa.)
Kylen Cieslak, Northwood (Mich.)
Shannon Gagne, New Haven (Conn.)
Kerrin Epstein, Gettysburg (Pa.)
Katie Hansen, Seattle
Priscilla Jennings, Millersville (Pa.)
Ayla Mitchell, Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Lavenna Mullenbach, Adams State (Colo.)
Erin Richard, Clarion (Pa.)
Ashley Roemer Minnesota State-Moorhead
Emily Schaf, Indianapolis
Jeeni Schantin, Seattle Pacific
Rebecca Taylor, Washington & Lee
Vanessa Warzecha, Morningside (Iowa)
Elizabeth Webb, Washington & Lee
Academic All-America® of the Year: Nora Kuiper, Hope