NFHCA Academic Teams and Scholars of Distinction 3/17/2015 2:22:00 PM NFHCA Scholar of Distinction Release | NFHCA Academic Team Award Release The National Field Hockey Coaches Association announced its Division III National Academic Team Award winners and Scholars of Distinction. The National Academic Team Award recognizes those institutions that have achieved a team GPA of 3.0 or higher during the first semester of the 2014-15 academic year. A total of 124 teams were selected and among those honored included: Alfred University Elmira College Hartwick College Houghton College Ithaca College Nazareth College Stevens Institute of Technology Utica College Washington & Jefferson College A total of 138 Division III field hockey players in the country earned the Scholar of Distinction award and the Empire 8 had five student-athletes earn the accolade. To be named a Gladiator NFCHA Scholar of Distinction, the student-athlete must have achieved a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.90 through the first semester of the 2014-15 academic year. Atupele Machika, Elmira College Laurel Shnider, Ithaca College Sibongile Chisi, Nazareth College Jordan Noga, Utica College Jessica Smith, Utica College