Oct. 28, 2008

FRESNO, Calif. - Academic honors continue to roll in for the Fresno State softball team as 2008 seniors Samantha Legorreta and Ashley White and junior Haley Perkins were named NFCA Scholar-Athletes for their work in the classroom last year.

"These young athletes are here to get an education," said head coach Margie Wright. "These kinds of awards to me are much bigger than any athletic award because they make a difference in their future. It's very difficult to balance school, athletics, work, family and everything else so I am very proud of these three."

Student-athletes must achieve a 3.30 GPA to be eligible for the award and all three of these Bulldogs earned at least a 3.54 GPA.

The NFCA began honoring student-athletes who have excelled in the classroom in the 1997 season. Since the award has been established, 16 Bulldogs have earned the honor, seven have been named twice, including Legorreta and one, Jamie Southern, has been honored three times.

White, Perkins and Legorreta were also named WAC Scholar-Athletes for the 2007-08 season, along with fellow teammates Nicole Angene, Ali King, Morgan Melloh, Aja Scheuber and Caitlin Stiglich. These Bulldogs along with Jenna Cervantez, Haley Gilleland, Lindsay Milchovich and Brooke Phipps were also named Fresno State Scholar-Athletes.