PRATT, Kan.- On Thursday, the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) released its 2021 Scholar-Athlete Team, an honor bestowed upon 2021 Pratt Community College graduates Jake Beeson and Morgan Schrag. 

Two years ago, the NATYCAA Officers approved an expanded Scholar-Athlete Awards Program, one which recognizes up to nine male and nine female honorees, one from each district in its membership. The district winners not only comprise the Scholar-Athlete team but are finalists for the NATYCAA Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award sponsored by Relation Insurance Solutions.
 
All remaining nominees receive Honorable Mention recognition.
 
"NATYCAA is proud to announce its 2021 Scholar-Athlete Team. It is an honor to recognize these outstanding student-athletes who have excelled in the classroom and on the field," said Paradise Valley Community College Director of Athletics Christina Hundley, who also chairs NATYCAA's Scholar-Athlete Committee. "This year was not an easy one and that makes the dedication and accomplishments of these student-athletes that much more commendable. Each of our nine districts advanced their remarkable finalists for consideration and these finalists make up our 2021 Scholar Athlete Team. We are also pleased to recognize all nominees as honorable mention. Congratulations and well done to each of these amazing student-athletes."
 
To be eligible for the award, nominees must meet the following criteria: minimum 3.6 GPA on a 4.0 scale with a minimum of 36 semester hours or 45 quarter hours with a minimum of 24 semester/36 quarter hours at the nominating institution; participation in a minimum of one complete season of varsity competition at the nominating institution; outstanding athletics success; and outstanding qualities of leadership and citizenship. Spring sport athletes may be considered for nomination the following year.

Beeson was named the Region Five recipient, while Schrag was named an honorable mention on the women's side. 

"This is a prestigious honor due to the nature of being nominated and then going through a selection process," said PCC athletic director Tim Swartzendruber. "Plus the criteria to be nominated eliminates many other student-athletes. I can't say enough about how proud I am of Jake and Morgan. They both were class persons here at PCC. They excelled in their sport, in the classroom, and as ambassadors for the institution."

NATYCAA's full release can be found here.