June 21, 2007
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. - Five Siena student-athletes were recently honored as 2007 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars as published in Diverse: Issues in Higher Education Magazine's April 5 issue. Michael Haddix , Liga Alpe-Luka, Amy Schoonmaker, Sugam Langer and Jose Loren were each recognized for their success on the playing field, in the classroom and out in the community.
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education established the Sports Scholars Awards to honor undergraduate students of color who have made achieving both academically and athletically a winning combination. The awards were inspired by tennis legend Arthur Ashe Jr.'s commitment to education as well as his love for the game.
Haddix, a -6-6 center, was named to the Sports Scholar Basketball Second Team. He finished his career as the first player in program history to rank in the top-6 in both scoring and rebounding. He was named to the NABC Second Team All-District, a I-AAA Athletic Director National Scholar Athlete, First Team All-MAAC, MAAC All-Tournament Team and MAAC All Academic Team.
Haddix was an active member in Siena Athletics' "Saints in the Community" initiative. He participated in the school's Adopt-a-School program, Ronald McDonald House Charities and Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. Haddix, Siena's male student-athlete of the year, graduated with 3.21 cumulative grade point average (GPA) in psychology.
Alpe-Luka, a native of Liepaja, Latvia, earned Honorable Mention honors for women's basketball. Alpe-Luka was a spark off the bench for the Saints last season appearing in 28 games and posting a team high 1.84 assist-to-turnover ratio. Alpe-Luka, an economics major, was selected to the MAAC All-Academic Team for the second time in as many years.
Alpe-Luka proved to be an integral part of the `Saints in the Community' effort. She visited the Eddy Ford Nursing Home for a New Year's celebration and served as a celebrity server at a Capital Region Action Against Breast Cancer fundraiser.
Schoonmaker was one of just four women's lacrosse players to earn this prestigious honor. The Simsbury, Conn. native tallied 16 points including 14 goals and two assists for the Saints last season. Schoonmaker, a history major, was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team with a 3.46 cumulative GPA.
Schoonmaker, a 5-3 attacker, volunteers regularly with St. Casmir's elementary school weekly physical education program, and also donates her time helping the Special Olympics in various capacities. Additionally, Schoonmaker serves as a peer tutor for mentally handicapped kids in her community.
Langer, a Second Team All-MAAC selection, was named to the Sports Scholars Women's Tennis Fourth Team. She served as team captain last season and was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team for the third straight year. In 2006, Langer helped Siena to its first MAAC Championship in program history.
In May, Langer graduated with a 3.46 grade point average studying political science. She dedicated countless hours over the past four years to Siena Athletics community service initiatives. In addition, Langer has been an active volunteer in Albany's 15-Love Tennis program which instructs urban youth fundamentals of the sport. Langer was a member of Siena's Black and Latino Student Union.
Loren was named to the Sports Scholars Men's Tennis Third Team after delivering an impressive 6-2 singles record last season. Loren, a three year starter, was named to the 2007 MAAC Honor Roll harboring a 3.30 cumulative grade point average in marketing and management.
The Bronx, N.Y. native is a member of Siena's Students in Free Enterprise team which placed second in last year's regional competition. Loren is an active volunteer with the Big Brother, Big Sister chapter on campus. Additionally, Loren is a member of the Black and Latino Student Union and the Siena Leadership Institute, a program that meets once a week designed to help students develop their leadership style.
To be included as an Arthur Ashe Sport Scholar, students must compete in an intercollegiate sport, maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 and be active on their campuses and in their communities.
