FMU Student-Athletes earn NCAA scholarships

FLORENCE, S.C. - Three Francis Marion University student-athletes were recently awarded NCAA Division II Degree-Completion Scholarship Awards for the 2008-09 academic year: men's tennis player James Maclachlan, volleyball player Jackie Phiel, and softball player Monica Wofford.

The three are among 86 recipients nationwide from 63 institutions.  FMU was among seven schools that received the maximum of three awards.  Francis Marion was also the only Peach Belt Conference member institution to earn an award for 2008.

These student-athletes are just short of completing their degrees but whose athletics eligibility has expired.  Applicants must be within 32 semester hours of completing their undergraduate degree, and have a 2.50 cumulative grade-point average.

This marks the second consecutive year that three Patriot student-athletes have been selected for this award, and over the past five years 11 FMU student-athletes have been granted an award.

Maclachlan, a native of Johannesburg, South Africa, is majoring in economics.  Phiel is from Amherst, Ohio, and is majoring in biology.  Wofford, a native of Myrtle Beach, is an elementary education major.

"We are grateful that the NCAA offers this program and that once again three of our student-athletes are able to benefit from it," said FMU director of athletics Murray Hartzler.  "The fact that we have earned awards each of the past five years speaks to the quality of our student-athletes and the effort they put forth toward earning their undergraduate degrees."

Maclachlan, Phiel, and Wofford were all recently named to the Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll, with Phiel and Wofford earning that honor for the fourth straight year.