WILLISTON, N.D. - Emily Stewart, a sophomore from Williston, is one of six Williston State College student-athletes to earn Academic All-American honors from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).
Stewart, who plays softball, qualified for the honor with a 3.85 GPA, making her a Second Team Academic All-American.
"It's tough [to balance academics and athletics]," Stewart said, "but staying organized is a big thing. The professors at WSC were really helpful and supportive, and team study sessions helped a lot as well."
Stewart, who also enjoys hunting and fishing, will attend North Dakota State University in the fall, where she will major in architecture with a minor in business. She hopes to eventually own her own architecture firm in the Williston area.
Other students with academic honors include Taylor Nelson, from Ray, North Dakota, and Isaiah Spencer, a freshman from Florida, who were both named First Team Academic All-Americans with perfect 4.0 GPAs.
In addition, Shayna Kintigh, a freshman from South Dakota, earned Second Team honors, while Mason Pryzybilla, an education major from Bismarck, North Dakota, and Riley Rowland, a sophomore from Alberta, qualified as Third Team Academic All-Americans.
The six student-athletes represent four different sports on WSC's campus, with Spencer, Rowland and Pryzybilla for baseball, Nelson representing women's basketball and Kintigh for volleyball.
NJCAA student-athletes must earn a minimum 3.6 GPA to be considered Academic All-Americans.
For more information on WSC please visit www.willistonstate.edu
call 1.888.863.9455, or stop by 1410 University Avenue, Williston, ND
Photo by John K. Geyerman