June 26, 2007
Athletic Department Announces Scholar Athletes of the Year
Rhyan Breen, Sara Poling and Kelly Shipkowski honored with highest academic honors

FAYETTEVILLE, NC-  Each year, the Methodist Department of Athletics honors the male and female student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade point average.  Football player, and recent graduate Rhyan Breen will receive the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year award.  For the first time there was a tie amongst the females with both Sara Poling and Kelly Shipkowski named Female Scholar Athletes of the Year.

The Scholar Athletes of the Year are presented to the student-athletes with the highest grade point average and must be full-time students and varsity athletes.  The student-athletes will be honored during the fall convocation ceremony.

Originally from Wilson, N.C., Rhyan Breen achieved a 3.90 cumulative grade point average in his senior year.  Sidelined during the beginning of the football season with injury, Breen returned to play in two games.  Earlier this year the team captain was honored with the Rita Wiggs Courageous Monarch for his tenacity during the year.  Despite any distractions on the field or at home, Breen maintained his focus in the classroom to achieve top honors this year while graduating with a degree in Political Science.

Sara Poling completed her sophomore year at Methodist with a 4.00 cumulative grade point average.  A mainstay at shortstop for the softball team, Poling batted .293 on the year with four home runs and 30 runs batted in.  Originally from Rocky Point, N.C., Poling is seeking a degree in Chemistry.

Also recording a 4.00 cumulative grade point average this year was freshman volleyball player Kelly Shipkowski.  A native of Cary, N.C., Shipkowski is also majoring in Chemistry.  During her rookie campaign, she saw action in 30 games with 25 kills on the year.