HAVERHILL — For the third consecutive year, the Northern Essex Community College athletic department led all Region 21 schools with 10 NJCAA All-Academic honorees.
First Team All-Academic honors are awarded to those who achieve a perfect 4.0 GPA, while second team honors are awarded to those who achieve a 3.80-3.99 GPA and third team recognition goes to those who have earned a 3.60-3.79 GPA for the academic year. This while completing at least 24 credits or by successfully completing degree requirements if less than 24 credits are required.
The Knights had a pair recognized on the first team. Franchesca Karam (Seabrook, N.H.) of the women’s volleyball team and Rebecca Heathman (Billerica) from the women’s basketball team achieved a perfect 4.0 for their work in the classroom. Heathman was also named the NECC Female Scholar Athlete of the Year as she walked across the commencement stage in May with overall GPA of 3.97
Earning second team All-Academic honors were Hina Atwell (Reading) from the women’s cross country and Jaren Megan (Fairhaven) from the baseball team, who is continuing his athletic and academic careers at Stonehill College.
Rounding out the Knights All-Academic selections were six selections to the third team. All-Region volleyball selection Cherly Brito Rosario (Lawrence) led the group and was joined by Jay’von Depina (Brockton) of the national championship men’s basketball team. Also named to the team were women’s basketball’s Amy Fluet (Methuen) and a trio of sophomores from the Knights’ World Series baseball team — Joshua Jones (Hamstead, N.H.), Jake Yngber (Miami, Fla.) and Jesse Yngber (Miami, Fla).
The 10 All Academic selections brings the Knights all-time count to an even 100.