Buffalo State honored 76 student-athletes at its 11th Annual Scholar-Athlete Academic Luncheon to recognize student-athletes that have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher for at least three semesters at the college today in the Hall of Fame Lobby in the Sports Arena.

Following opening remarks by Athletics Director Jerry Boyes, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Dennis K. Ponton addressed the audience. Among the 68 student-athletes honored, were 25 that have maintained a 3.50 GPA or higher.

Paul Gagnon (Troy, MI/Troy) and Lindsay Smith (Ithaca/Ithaca) were also recognized as the top graduating male and female scholar-athletes. Gagnon, a men's hockey player majoring in business and marketing has maintained a 3.70 GPA. Smith is a member of the women's basketball program, graduating with a degree in social work with a 3.79 GPA.

The athletics department would like to recognize the following invited faculty and staff members that were present at the invitation of individual student-athletes: Dr. Nancy Chicola (El. Ed.), Dr. Christopher Pennuto (Biology), Dr. Laurie Buonanno (Political Science), Dr. Coralee Smith (El. Ed.), Dr. Lori Till (Hospitality), Tom Renzi (Academic Skills Ctr.), Catherine George (Academic Support), Dr. Susan Baldwin (Health & Wellness), Dr. Maria Pacheco (Chemistry), Dr. William Lin (CIS), Dr. Gregory Wadsworth (Biology), Rolf Hoeg (Design), James Okun (Business), Richard Butz (Technology), Dr. Leonard Graziplene (Business), Paul Shields (History), Dr. Raul Neira (Modern and Classical Languages), Brenda Benzin (French), Louis Rera (Communication), Jeff Ventura (Communication), David Brinson (Technology), Tony Sartori (Nat. and Social Sciences), Leslie Day (El. Ed.), Susan Hall (Ed. Foundations), Gerald Oczek (History), Dr. Patrick McGovern (Political Science), Dr. Andrew Joniak (Business), Lynne Scalia (Business), Pamela Schuetze (Psychology), Dr. John Siskar (Visual Arts), Phyllis Pomerantz (Social Work), and Lin Xia Jiang (Fine Arts).