By Madelyn McAteer Special to UNHWildcats.com
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A total of 65 University of New Hampshire student-athletes were inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society, this past Friday night, April 12, at the Watkins Center for Student-Athlete Excellence in the UNH Field House.
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The society consists of junior and senior student-athletes from every UNH athletic team and a variety of majors. The members must be of junior standing academically, earn a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or above, and be of good moral character.
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The purposes of Chi Alpha Sigma are to encourage and reward high academic scholarship of college athletes at four year accredited colleges, to recognize outstanding academic achievements by intercollegiate varsity sport student-athletes, to encourage good citizenship, moral character and friendship among the high academic achievers in college athletics, to recognize and honor the individual athletes, his/her team, sport, athletic department and university and to mentor and provide leadership to other athletes.
 Joanne Maldari, Associate Athletic Director for Academic Support, holds the event annually in order to recognize the UNH student-athletes who excel in the classroom.
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"I think it's very important to recognize the student-athletes because nationally athletes get bad press, but I also think they face challenges as student-athletes along with the time commitment of being athletes. It is extremely important to honor them because they put in so many extra hours, they're so disciplined and they really set a good example for other students in leadership and commitment, which are skills we want to highlight going forward."
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Maldari feels a sense of pride in the growing organization and noted the significance of adding 44 new members.
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"We have more and more student athletes getting recognized as having a 3.5 or higher which is such as testament to their hard work and everyone at UNH athletics and at the university that really work to support the athletes. It demonstrates everyone's commitment, but most of all the student-athletes' desire to excel in the classroom."
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Junior member of the women's ice hockey team Abby Chapman (Beverly Hills, Mich.) explained what being inducted means to her and echoed Maldari on how UNH student-athletes are breaking the mold.
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"Being inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma is really important to me because it recognizes student-athletes who go above and beyond our requirements on the field. We all aren't necessarily supposed to get a certain GPA but this group of athletes pushes themselves extra to be leaders at UNH and in the athletic department. I think we are breaking stereotypes around student-athletes not having the best GPA or being leaders in the classroom, obviously that's not the case and this organization really highlights that."
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Four members of the women's hockey team were inducted (Photo by Jessica Speechley)
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With countless hours being spent training for each individual's sport, it may seem difficult to balance rigorous academics along with it. But men's ice hockey red-shirt sophomore Patrick Grasso (Ankeny, Iowa) acknowledges the university's efforts to help student-athletes succeed in both aspects
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"I think UNH does a great job at providing the tools that we need to balance our academics and athletics together."
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Patrick Grasso (Photo by Jessica Speechley)
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Senior gymnast Danielle Doolin (Medford Lakes, N.J.) appreciates being honored for her hard work in the classroom for the second year in a row.
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"It means a lot to be a member of Chi Alpha Sigma because I feel like all the hard work we put in for years is finally paying off and to be noticed for it is really exciting."
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Six members of the gymnastics team were inducted (Photo by Jessica Speechley)
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Junior thrower Alyssa Colbert (Smithfield, R.I.) commented on how UNH has changed her mind set in regards to academics and how being a member of Chi Alpha Sigma will further her motivation, both on and off the field in the future.
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"I came here with intent to excel at sports and I never really thought about being a student before an athlete so I think this organization really motivates me to think about being a student before anything else. Being motivated in the classroom will also motivate me to excel on the field and with throwing."
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Sixteen of the twenty five members of the men's and women's track and field / cross country teams who were inducted (Photo by Jessica Speechley)
 VIEW PHOTO GALLERY OF THE CEREMONY
 List of UNH Inductees:
* Two-time inductee
