Cheshire's Gunneson Nominated for NE-10 Conference Scholar-Athlete Award

HAMDEN, CT — Hamden’s Dean Bhatt, a senior on the Southern Connecticut State University men's cross country and track and field teams, and Cheshire’s Kelly Gunneson, a senior on the Owls' volleyball squad, have been announced as nominees for the 2016 Northeast-10 Conference Scholar-Athlete Awards.

The conference recognizes one male and one female Scholar-Athlete annually. The three finalists for each gender will be announced on June 2, with the formal presentation to the winner at the conference's annual year end banquet the following week.

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It's another accolade onto a growing list for Bhatt, who was named to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Team earlier this week.

Previously named the 2016 SCSU Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year, he is also a nominee for both the Northeast-10 Conference Man of the Year award.

A team captain for the track and field and cross country programs, he has also been recognized academically by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association with selections to both its Cross Country and Track and Field All-Academic Teams a total of three times during his career.

Bhatt is also a three-time Northeast-10 Conference All-Academic Team honoree, as well as a Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award recipient.

Gunneson, named the 2016 SCSU Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a 2016 recipient of the prestigious Barnard Award from the CSCU system, has also distinguished herself with an array of academic and athletic honors.

She is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and the National Math Honor Society. She was a two-time selection to the Northeast-10 Conference Volleyball Academic Team and a multiple selection for both the Division II Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award. As a member of the Owls' volleyball squad, she saw action as a starter in each season and was a two-year team captain.

Image via SCSU Athletics