For Immediate Release: May 15, 2009
Contact: John Hartrick (hartrick@binghamton.edu)
Phone: 607-777-6800

Four BU athletes honored as SUNY Chancellor Scholar-Athletes
Mayben, McDonough, Smith, Vloedgraven recognized by state

VESTAL, N.Y.– Four Binghamton University student-athletes have been honored by New York State as SUNY Chancellor Scholar-Athletes. Selected in a vote of administrators at the four Division I SUNY programs were basketball player Emanuel Mayben, baseball player Murphy Smith, volleyball player Michelle McDonough and men's tennis player Sven Vloedgraven.

The award winners each had a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher and achieved distinction in their athletic endeavors as well.

Mayben led the men's basketball team to a school-record 23 wins and first-ever conference regular season and tournament titles and an NCAA berth. Smith is the top pitcher in the America East and has his team on the cusp of the program's third straight regular season title. McDonough was the school's female Athlete of the Year after guiding the volleyball team to a runnerup finish in the America East. Vloedgraven led the men's tennis team to another America East championship and NCAA tournament appearance.

The Chancellor's Scholar-Athlete Award was created to recognize academic excellence and outstanding athletic achievement. In addition to academic excellence, the student-athlete must have been named to any of the following: the all-conference team, all-tournament team, MVP, etc.

Awards were given to student-athletes in four separate categories: Division I, Division III - SUNYAC, Division III - Independents, and NJCAA. The overall GPA for this year's recipients is a 3.66.