MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Junior Nathan Howells of the West Virginia University swimming team was named the 2015-16 Big 12 Men’s Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year, announced on Thursday.
“It’s an honor for our program and Nathan (Howells),” said WVU coach Vic Riggs. “This is the program’s fourth Scholar-Athlete of the Year award since joining the Big 12 Conference, and we’re very proud of that. It’s a great tradition for our team to strive for each year.”
Majoring in biochemistry, Howells has maintained a 3.90 grade point average while balancing the commitment of being a Division I student-athlete.
Howells is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 Swimming and Diving Team honoree, representing with a 4.00 GPA in 2015 after also sporting a perfect GPA as a member of the 2014 Big 12 Academic All-Rookie Team.
This marks the fourth Scholar-Athlete of the Year award for the WVU swimming and diving team in the four years it has been in the Big 12. Liam McLaughlin earned the honor in 2012-13, and David Palley and Haily VandePoel were recognized in 2014-15.
The Big 12 Conference established its Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award in 2012-13. A recipient is named in each of the Conference’s sponsored sports. Each Big 12 institution nominates one individual per sport with the winners selected by a vote of the league’s head coaches for that sport, who are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes.
The Scholar-Athlete must be a junior or senior (athletic and academic standing), have a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or higher, participate in at least 60 percent of the team’s scheduled contests and reside at the institution for a minimum of one year.
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Press release courtesy of West Virginia University.