06 Jul 2022 Nighthawks earn All-Academic honors

HOT SPRINGS — Sixteen student-athletes of the National Park College (NPC) Nighthawk baseball, softball, cross-country and men’s and women’s basketball teams were recently named to the 2022 NJCAA All-Academic team for their outstanding performance in the classroom. 

Sophomore Braylin McKinley (men’s basketball, Fort Smith) and freshmen Panama Mendez (baseball, Miami Beach, FL) and Jake Turner (baseball, Fountain Lake) were named to the All-Academic first team for completing a minimum of 24 credit hours while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. 

Freshmen Shelbee LeJeune (softball, Maurice, LA), David Newsom (baseball, Sheridan) and Khloe Walker (softball, Simms, TX) were named to the All-Academic second team for completing a minimum of 24 credit hours while maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.80. 

Sophomores Essieana Bennett (women’s basketball, Houston, TX), Madeline Bruce (softball, Conway), Brooke Nalley (softball, Alvarado, TX), Kade Shaffer (men’s basketball, Russellville) and Jacob Squires (baseball, Bigelow) and freshmen Olivia Caraway (cross-country, Hot Springs), Elizabeth Dearyan (cross-country, Hot Springs), Trey McKim (baseball, Glen Rose), Evan Shoffit (baseball, Farmington) and Payton Windham (baseball, Maud, TX) and each were named to the All-Academic third team for completing a minimum of 24 credit hours while maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.60. 

“I am proud of these young men and women and the job they have done in the classroom,” NPC Athletic Director Jason Hudnell said. “These student-athletes who have made the NJCAA All-Academic Team are the epitome of what we strive to be as an athletic program.”