Big Ten Faculty Representatives established the Distinguished Scholar Award in 2008 to supplement the Academic All-Big Ten program. Distinguished Scholar Award recipients must have the following criteria for the academic year: Academic All-Big Ten recognition, must have been enrolled full time at the institution for the entire academic year (two semesters or three quarters) and earned a minimum GPA of 3.70 or better (excluding any summer grades). The Academic All-Big Ten threshold is a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for a student’s academic career.
The following student-athletes boast a perfect 4.0 for the fall 2024-Spring 2025 academic year:
Baseball: Gavin Sitarz, Ryan Szczepaniak
Women’s Basketball: Emma Shumate
Field Hockey: Jillian Bonczewski, Grace Fronczak, Emma O’Neill, Ellie Rutherford, Alexa Shaffer
Football: Michael Masunas, Darius Snow
Men’s Golf: Lorenzo Pinili
Women’s Golf: Katie Lu
Gymnastics: Giana Kalefe, Genevieve Lebster, Stephanie Lebster
Rowing: Kate Heinecke, Grace Thomas
Men’s Soccer: Will Eby, Myles Foster, Alec Laible, Josh Mason
Women’s Soccer: Ella Janz, Bella Najera
Softball: Sydney Doloszycki
Men’s Tennis: Josh Portnoy
Women’s Tennis: Sarah Fazlagic, Matilde Morais, Natalie Stasny
Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field: Quinn Cullen, Josh Devries, Kyle Eberhard, Noah Morrow, Tyler Pritchett
Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field: Emily Bardwell, Natalie Blake, Sophia Bonnema, Allison Chmielewski, Sophia Lucki, Valadian Pallett, Madison Price, Judith Rector, Kate Stewart-Barnett
2024-25 Michigan State Big Ten Distinguished Scholars
Baseball
Jacob Anderson (Jr., Kinesiology, Oakland Township, Mich.)
Jake Dresselhouse (Jr., Advertising Management, Highland, Mich.)
Tate Farquhar (Jr., Information Science, Highland, Mich.)
Ryan McKay (So., Finance, Clarkston, Mich.)
Dominic Pianto (5th-Sr., Accounting (MS), Hendersonville, Tenn.)
Gavin Sitarz (Jr., Finance, St. Charles, Ill.)
Ryan Szczepaniak (Jr., Criminal Justice, Woodhaven, Mich.)
Men’s Basketball
Carson Cooper (Jr., Management, Jackson, Mich.)
Women’s Basketball
Julia Ayrault (Gr., Education (MA), Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.)
Theryn Hallock (Jr., Advertising Management, Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Mary Meng (R-Fr., Marketing, Grafton, Ohio)
Emma Shumate (Jr., Environmental Economics, Dresden, Ohio)
Field Hockey
Jillian Bonczewski (Sr., Elementary Education, Larksville, Pa.)
Katelyn Dulin (So, Finance, Barto, Pa.)
Grace Fronczak (Jr., Human Development & Family Studies, Columbus, Ohio)
Lyra Gavino (So., Management, New Malden, England)
Serena Mailhe (So., Advertising Creative, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Emma O’Neill (Sr., Special Education-Learning Disabilities, Hummelstown, Pa.)
Bianca Pizano (So., Kinesiology, Exeter, Pa.)
Ellie Rutherford (Sr., Management, Edinburgh, Scotland)
Skylar Santucci (Jr., Criminal Justice, Medford, NJ)
Alexa Shaffer (So., Kinesiology, Hummelstown, Pa.)
Brynn Shaffer (So., Special Education-Learning Disabilities, Hummelstown, Pa.)
Ellie Wheatley (Gr., Marketing Research & Analytics (MS), Louisville, Ky)
Football
Tarik Ahmetbasic (So., Mechanical Engineering, Clinton Township, Mich.)
Grant Calcagno (So., Advertising Management, Rochester, Mich.)
Cole Dellinger (So., Criminal Justice, Clarkston, Mich.)
Sam Edwards (Gr., Marketing Research & Analytics (MS), Williamston, Mich.)
Michael Masunas (Jr., Management, Tucson, Ariz.)
Ben Nelson (Jr., Marketing, Holland, Mich.)
Darius Snow (Gr., Media Analytics (Grad Cert), Frisco, Texas)
Jalen Thompson (So., Advertising Management, Detroit, Mich.)
Men’s Golf
Lorenzo Pinili (So., Finance, Rochester Hills, Mich.)
Women’s Golf
Paula Balanzategui (Jr., Communication, San Sebastian Spain)
Brooke Biermann (Sr., Human Resources & Labor Relations, Wildwood, Mo.)
Shannon Kennedy (Sr., Communication, Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)
Katherine Lu (Sr., Finance, Plainsboro, N.J.)
Gymnastics
Kendall Abney (So., Nursing, Belleville, Mich.)
Elle Beaufait (Jr., Fisheries & Wildlife, Columbus, Mich.)
Lauren Hsu (Sr., Kinesiology, Austin, Texas)
Giana Kalefe (5th-Sr., Advertising Management, Corona, Calif.)
Sage Kellerman (Jr., Special Education-Learning Disabilities, Croswell, Mich.)
Genevieve Lebster (Sr., Mechanical Engineering, Holland, Mich.)
Stephanie Lebster (Jr., Kinesiology, Holland, Mich.)
Skyla Schulte (Sr., Advertising Management, Bolingbrook, Ill.)
Nikki Smith (Jr., Studio Art, West Bloomfield, Mich.)
Gabrielle Stephen (Sr., Criminal Justice, Elgin, Ill.)
Isabella Trostel (So., Special Education-Learning Disabilities, Westerville, Ohio)
Hockey
Trey Augustine (So., Finance, South Lyon, Mich.)
Matt Basgall (Jr., Kinesiology, Lake Forest, Ill.)
Dolan Gilbert (Jr., Psychology, South Bend, Ill.)
Griffin Jurecki (So., Finance, Grosse Ile, Mich.)
Joey Larson (Jr., Supply Chain Management, Brighton, Mich.)
Tommi Mannisto (So., Advertising Management, Riihimaki, Finland)
Austin Oravetz (So., Criminal Justice, Canonsburg, Penn.)
Rowing
Kendyl Baron (So, Psychology, Macomb, Mich.)
Lucy Botting (Gr, Advertising Creative, Christchurch, NZ)
Elise Ciantar (Jr., Criminal Justice, Plymouth, Mich,)
Emily Crofut (Jr., Human Biology, Grand Ledge, Mich.)
Lillian Davidson-Walshe (Jr., Economics, Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Lauren Droska (Jr., Human Resources & Labor Relations, Clinton Township, Mich.)
Freya Engel (Sr., Criminal Justice, Workingham, Berkshire, England)
Kate Heinecke (Jr., Biosystems Engineering, St. Paul, Minn.)
Ella Mckenzie, 5th, Kinesiology, Brisbane, Australia)
Elizabeth Pollion (Jr., Human Resources & Labor Relations, Petoskey, Mich.)
Ugne Rudaityte (So., Human Biology, Vilnius, Lithuania)
Haley Sornig (So., Criminal Justice, Rochester, Mich,)
Grace Thomas (Sr., Kinesiology, Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Men’s Soccer
Josh Adam (R-Jr., Construction Management, Brighton, Mich.)
Will Eby (So., Mechanical Engineering, Northville, Mich.)
Efosa Emovon (Sr., Kinesiology, London, Ontario)
Myles Foster (R-Fr., Supply Chain Management, East Lansing, Mich.)
Jack Guggemos (Jr., Supply Chain Management, Okemos, Mich.)
Zac Kelly (R-Jr., Crop & Soil Sciences, Holt, Mich.)
Alec Laible (R-Fr., Kinesiology, Rock Hill, S.C.)
Josh Mason (Jr., Kinesiology, South Lyon, Mich.)
Women’s Soccer
Sofia Beerworth (Jr., Civil Engineering, Montreal, Quebec)
Regan Dalton (Gr,, Strategic Communication (MA), Rockford, Mich,)
Adelle Francis (R-Fr., Communication, Perrysburg, Ohio)
Justina Gaynor (Gr., Sport Coaching, Leadership & Administration (MS), Shelby Township, Mich.)
Maggie Illig (Jr., Kinesiology, Troy, Mich,)
Ella Janz (So., Kinesiology, Northville, Mich.)
Bella Najera (So., Marketing, St. Charles, Ill.)
Kaitlyn Parks (Gr., Digital Media, Upper Marlbroro, Md.)
Sophia Piotrowski (So., Kinesiology, Troy, Mich,)
Renee Watson (So., Data Science, Toronto, Ontario)
Softball
Britain Beshears (Jr., Supply Chain Management, Novi, Mich.)
Hailey Bila (Jr, Kinesiology, Laingsuburg, Mich.)
Sydney Doloszycki (Jr., Kinesiology, Saint John, Ind.)
Faith Guidry, Sr,, Human Biology, Mont Belvieu, Texas)
Hannah Hawley (Jr., Supply Chain Management, Coventry, RI)
Macy Lee (Sr., Law Enforcement Intelligence & Analysis (MS), Phoenix, Ariz.)
Men’s Tennis
Taym Al Azmeh (So., Psychology, Damascus, Syria)
Josh Portnoy (Sr., Physiology, Okemos, Mich.)
Women’s Tennis
Sarah Fazlagic (Jr., Political Science-PreLaw, Louisville, Ky.)
Matilde Morais (Jr., Advertising Management, Cascais, Portugal)
Issey Purser (Jr., Finance, Ascot, United Kingdom)
Natalie Stasny (So., Human Biology, Woodridge, Ill.)
Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Adam Blue (Jr., Economics, Potterville, Mich.)
Ben Classen (So., Supply Chain Management, Niwot, Colo.)
Quinn Cullen (So., Communication, Brighton, Mich.)
Josh Devries (Sr., Construction Management, Portage, Mich.)
Kyle Eberhard (So., Aquatic Ecology & Management, Linden, Mich.)
Owen Gilbert (So., Digital Storytelling, Battle Creek, Mich.)
Parker Lambers (So., Finance, Holland, Mich.)
Andrew Lane (Sr., Neuroscience, East Lansing, Mich.)
Noah Morrow (So., Kinesiology, Manton, Mich.)
Andrew Nolan (Gr., Computer Science (MS), Oxford, Mich.)
Jack Pennewell (Sr., Environmental Engineering, St. Clair, Mich.)
Alex Penski (Gr., Business Administration (MBA), Holt, Mich.)
Luke Perelli (Gr., Computer Science (MS), Plymouth, Mich.)
Tyler Pritchett (Gr., Applied Engineering Science, Midland, Mich.)
Brendan VanderMeer (Jr., Supply Chain Management, Grand Haven, Mich.)
Connor Williamson (So., Finance, Mason, Mich.)
Alexander Yon (So., Criminal Justice, Hartland, Mich.)
Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country
Elizabeth Anderson (So., Genomics & Molecular Genetics, New Boston, Mich.)
Elizabeth Babcock (Jr., Horticulture, Novi, Mich.)
Emily Bardwell (Jr., Integrative Biology (MS), Brunswick, Ohio)
Meghan Beute (So., Hospitality Business, Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Breanne Black (Jr., Kinesiology, Chelsea, Mich.)
Natalie Blake (Jr., Human Biology, Holland, Mich.)
Sophia Bonnema (Jr., Physiology, Holland, Mich.)
Abbey Carvey (Sr., Neuroscience, Farmington, Mich.)
Allison Chmielewski (So., Graphic Design, Roscommon, Mich.)
Allison Cornell (So., Marketing, Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Taylor Ewert (Sr., Interdisciplinary Humanities, Beavercreek, Ohio)
Sarah Forsyth (Jr., Communication, Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Anyssa Hall (Jr., Journalism, New Castle, Ind.)
Eleanor Kendell (Gr., Marketing Research & Analytics (MS), Huntington Woods, Mich.)
Janan Khalil (Sr., Packaging, Macomb, Mich.)
Anjali Kidambi (So., Neuroscience, Novi, Mich.)
Sophia Lucki (Sr., Human Biology, Toronto, Canada)
Melanie Macias (So., Construction Management, Willis, Mich.)
Olivia Millen (Jr., Marketing, Plymouth, Mich.)
Valadian Pallett (Sr., Genomics & Molecular Genetics, Farmington, Mich.)
Reese Powers (Jr., Elementary Education, Marysville, Mich.)
Madison Price (Gr., Sport Coaching (Grad Cert), Trenton, Mich.)
Judith Rector (Gr., Media & Information (MA), Hanover, Mich.)
Mia Rogan (So., Social Work, Ann Arbor, Mich.)
Kaia Scheffler (Gr., Advertising Creative, Brownstown, Mich.)
Kate Stewart-Barnett (Sr., Human Biology, New Westminster, B.C.)
Jessica Stieb (So., Kinesiology, Loup City, Neb.)
Ava Stout (So., Elementary Education, Wiesbaden, Germany)
Makenna Veen (Gr., Sport Coaching, Leadership & Administration (MS), Kalamazoo, Mich.)
Chloe Wall (Jr., Kinesiology, Waterford, Mich.)
Lexy Wilson (Jr., Psychology, Ypsilanti, Mich.)
Mackenzie Wright (So., Elementary Education, Howell, Mich.)
Volleyball
Julia Bishop (Sr., Computational Data Science, Dearborn, Mich.)
Taylah Holdem (So., Human Development & Family Studies, Christchurch, New Zealand)
Aliyah Moore (Sr., Kinesiology, Surprise, Ariz.)
Wrestling
Luke Daly (R-Jr., Accounting, Carbondale, Ill.)
Ceasar Garza (R-So., Elementary Education, Oakdale, Calif.)
Andrew Hampton (R-Jr., Marketing, Rochester, Mich.)
Marty Larkin (R-Sr., Lifelong Education, Orland Park, Ill.)
Kael Wisler (R-So., Civil Engineering, New Boston, Mich.)
