Six Panthers Earn All-America Scholar-Athlete Awards

By  //  December 7, 2012

Five Graduates, Two Sophomores Honored

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Tech had six of its softball players from the 2012 team recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association as All-America Scholar Athletes on Thursday.

The Panthers’ NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes include, clockwise, Brianna Barth, Lauren Cole, Emily Densem, Kelsey Donahue, Sarah Doring and Sasha Stepaniuk (Images courtesy of Florida Tech)

Earning the prestigious honor were former Panthers Brianna Barth, Lauren Cole, Emily Densem, Sarah Doring and Sasha Stepaniuk.

They were joined by two of the team’s current members: sophomores Kelsey Donahue and Taylor Smith.

Entering the fall semester, Donahue boasted a 3.76 GPA as an international business major. Smith is also majoring in international business. She nearly had an identical GPA to Donahue at 3.75.

Barth, Densem and Stepaniuk have graduated from FIT. Cole will receive her undergraduate degree in psychology at the institution’s fall commencement next Saturday, Dec. 15.

The NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete award is bestowed upon any player submitted by a member coach who achieved a 3.50 grade point average or higher during the 2011-12 academic year.

Among its Sunshine State Conference peers who submitted at least one student-athlete, FIT had the second-most honorees along with Tampa. Barry led all SSC teams with nine.