Enterprise Gift Recognizes Academic Success
8/18/2015 11:21:00 AM | Athletics
Joseph Cardello, Monica Sugarek and Jamie Barry from Enterprise Rent-A-Car presented the Sam Houston Athletic Department and the SHSU College of Business Administration with a $10,000 check to support academic achievement at the university Monday.
Cardello is regional vice president, Sugarek is human resources manager and Barry is talent acquisition specialist for Enterprise. The check was presented to College of Business Administration dean Mitchell Muehsam and Sam Houston assistant athletic director for student services Dr. Jessica Payne.
The funds support COBA's Developing Business Professionals program and the Athletics academic program. Enterprise annually provides a special workshop to Bearkat senior student-athletes entitled “How To Brand Yourself for Professional Development.”
The workshop highlights interview skills, professional dress tips and other aspects of career development.
“Sam Houston State definitely appreciates the great support we receive from Enterprise,” Payne said. “The Enterprise workshop has helped so many of our athletes as they prepare for life after graduation. Several of our student-athletes have ended up working for Enterprise as both interns and employees.”
During the 2014-15 sports season as Sam Houston earned the Southland Conference Commissioner's Cup Men's All-Sports trophy for a fourth time. The more than 400 student-athletes who play for the university's 17 sports teams compiled back-to-back semester grade point averages of 3.16 in the fall (a department record) and 3.06 in the spring. Seven sports teams compiled team GPAs higher than 3.0 during both the fall and spring semesters.
Two Bearkats received the league's highest academic honor as they were voted Southland Conference “Student-Athlete of the Year” for their respective sport. Zac Cabra earned the honor for men's golf and Kara Whitson was award the distinction in both women's indoor and outdoor track and field. Women's bowler Janine Kuwahara was a CoSIDA Academic All-Region selection as well.
Twenty-four Bearkats were named as Academic All-Southland honorees during the 2013-14 season. A total of 180 SHSU student-athletes received Southland Conference Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll recognition.
Sam Houston athletics' success in the classroom is no flash in the pan. Since the 1994-95 school year, SHSU student-athletes have combined to produce semester GPAs of 2.4 or higher. The Bearkat athletic GPA has 2.89 or higher for 16 consecutive semesters.
