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May 27, 2008 Watching the big-time collegiate programs face-off in big-time, revenue generating sports, it can be easy to scoff at the notion of "student-athletes." But that's only a small percentage of NCAA athletics. Most college sports are played by athletes who are dedicated to excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community. Listed below are 15 graduating seniors you've probably never heard of, whose outstanding all-around performances legitimize the notion of the "student-athlete." Shauna Stapleton - Purdue University Women's Soccer - The first female soccer player in Boilermaker history to receive Academic All-America honors, as well as the Big Ten Medal of Honor for academic and athletic excellence. As a senior midfielder, she notched 10 goals and 11 assists this season, while leading Purdue to its first Big Ten Tournament Championship and a Top 10 national ranking. In the classroom she's even more impressive. With a cumulative GPA of 4.0, Stapleton has been named to the Dean's List six times and was selected Entomology Student of the Year in 2005 and 2006. She's part of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and volunteers with the Red Cross.  Shauna Stapleton was the first female soccer player in Boilermaker history to receive Academic All-America honors. Matt Dobbins - Jacksonville University Baseball - Dobbins has had an illustrious career on the mound and in the classroom at Jacksonville. As a sophomore pitcher, he went 12-0 to lead the nation and ranked in the top five in wins, innings pitched, complete games and opponent batting average. He won the Atlantic Sun "Pitcher of the Year" and was a semi-finalist for the Brooks Wallace College "Player of the Year" Award. This season he was named to the Preseason All AmericaTeam. A regular member of the Dean's List, Dobbins has earned Atlantic Sun Academic All-Conference honors for the last two seasons. His volunteer work at the Daniel School for abused children and participation in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life earned Dobbins JU's Outstanding Leadership and Service Award in 2007. Rachel Dawson - University of North Carolina Field Hockey - The senior back/midfielder scored 19 goals this season and captained the Tar Heels to a perfect 24-0 season and a National Championship. Seventh all-time for goals and scoring in UNC history, Dawson was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year (for the second year in a row), ACC Tournament MVP and National Player of the Year. She's a Dean's List student with a 3.6 GPA who has been named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll and the NFHCA National Academic Squad. Mislav Hizak - Embry-Riddle Tennis - Now, I know you haven't heard of Hizak, a tennis star at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, (the only accredited, aviation-oriented university in the world) but he deserves attention. Following the recent rise of Croatian tennis stars, Hizak was ranked the No. 1 singles player in the ITA preseason poll. He has won the ITA/NAIA National Championship and ITA National Small College "Super Bowl" title an unprecedented three years in a row. Off the court, Hizak is just as acute. He's been honored as an NAIA Men's Tennis Scholar was named to the Academic All-Conference team and volunteers for the Salvation Army, UNICEF and Toys for Tots. Max Pinto - Williams College Baseball - Pinto, a 6-foot-1 outfielder from Palo Alto, helped Williams College capture the NESCAC West Division crown with a 9-4 victory against arch-rival Amherst College. On the season, Pinto is hitting .388 and has scored 36 runs. He leads the Ephs in doubles, home runs and RBIs. An all-league wrestler for three years, Pinto decided to concentrate fully on baseball his senior season in the hopes of playing in the big leagues, but if that doesn't work out he'll be okay. He's already got a job lined up after graduation with the consulting firm Parthenon Group in Boston.
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