Anderson Earns Academic Honor

HAMILTON, N.Y. -- Colgate junior defenseman Mark Anderson (Hastings, Neb.) is one of 10 student-athletes in the Northeast selected to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Men's At-Large Academic all-District I first team, the College Sports Information Directors of America announced Thursday. Anderson will join first-team representatives from CoSIDA's other seven districts on the University Division national ballot for a chance to be voted an Academic All-American.

A cellular neuroscience major, Anderson owns a 3.79 cumulative grade-point average, including a 4.00 GPA for the fall 2007 semester. He was one of three finalists for the 2008 ECAC Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, and was the only underclassman among the finalists. As a freshman, he received Colgate's Haskell Schiff Memorial Prize for excellence in physical chemistry, and is a two-time recipient of the Charles A. Dana award. A three-time recipient of the Dean's Award, Anderson is a member of Phi Eta Sigma, the national freshman honor society. Anderson has already been accepted to medical school at George Washington University through the school's early assurance program, and plans to pursue a career in sports medicine.

On the ice, Anderson skated in 37 games this season, and finished second among Colgate defensemen in scoring with five goals and nine assists for 14 points. His +14 rating for the year ranked second overall among the Raiders, and he had two game-winning goals and a shorthanded goal as a junior. For his career, Anderson has 27 points on seven goals and 20 assists in 92 games. He has been active in his team's charitable efforts, and has helped the Raiders raise more than $11,000 for charity over the last two years.

Anderson is one of eight Colgate student-athletes who have been selected to an Academic all-District I team during the 2007-08 academic year. He will be looking to join junior Daniel Kerley (Leawood, Kan.) of the men's soccer team as an Academic All-American, which would give Colgate its first pair of Academic All-Americans in the same season since the 1997-98 academic year.

In order to be eligible for the Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must possess a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a 4.00 scale, achieved sophomore standing both athletically and academically, and be a starter or key reserve on his or her team. The men's and women's at-large teams included student-athletes from a variety of sports, including hockey, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, water polo, men's volleyball, and wrestling.

Academic all-district teams are voted on by members of CoSIDA who represent colleges and universities from that district. Academic All-America teams are voted on by members of CoSIDA's Academic All-America committee. Results of the voting for the national teams will be announced on Tuesday, June 10.