Springfield College student-athlete Jon Zirna of East Amherst, NY (14051) Earned CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District(R) At-Large Team Honors.

2015 May 18

Springfield College student-athlete Jon Zirna of East Amherst, NY (14051) earned College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Capital One Academic All-District(R) At-Large Team Honors.

Zirna is a Physician Assistant major.

This honor recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. The Academic All-District(R) teams include the student-athletes from eight geographic districts across the United States and Canada. District I was comprised of 33 student-athletes from New England, including 11 from Division III, and Springfield College's three male recipients marked the most from any one institution in the region. First-team Academic All-District (R) honorees advance to the Capital One Academic All-America(R) Team ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America honorees will be announced on June 9.

Zirna was one of only five collegiate gymnasts from the entire nation to earn the academic all-district honor. A co-recipient of the Elite 89 Award, which is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships, Zirna earned All-ECAC honors in the all-around, pommel horse, and vault, and took home USAG All-America honors in both the all-around and pommel horse. In addition, the junior established new school records in the pommel horse (15.25) and parallel bars (14.65) this season.

Founded in 1885, Springfield College is known worldwide for the guiding principles of its humanics philosophy--educating students in spirit, mind and body for leadership in service to others. With its foundation of academic excellence and rich athletic heritage, Springfield College prepares students with real-world leadership skills for careers that transform lives and communities. The college offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of health sciences, human and social services, sport management and movement studies, education, business, and the arts and sciences. It also offers doctoral programs in physical education, physical therapy, and counseling psychology. The college is ranked in the 2015 edition of "Best Colleges" in the top tier of "Best Regional Universities - North Region" by U.S.News and World Report, and is designated as a premier Leadership Development Center by the YMCA of the USA. More than 5,000 traditional, nontraditional and international students study at its main campus in Springfield, Mass., and at its School of Human Services campuses across the country.