BUFFALO — Buffalo State senior Jenna Smolinski (Hamburg/Frontier) has been name the SUNYAC Women’s Soccer Co-Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Smolinski has maintained a 3.96 cumulative GPA in health and wellness since transferring to Buffalo State during her sophomore year, including posting a perfect 4.0 GPA in each of the past three semesters. A member of the Chi Alpha Sigma, the National College Athlete Honor Society, she also serves as the president of the Health and Fitness Organization and as a member of the Buffalo State Health Ambassador Program. A member of the All-College Honors Program, Smolinski is on track to graduate this May and will pursue a career in community and public health.
On the field, Smolinski served as a team captain and helped lead the Bengals to their first-ever SUNYAC Championship and NCAA Playoff appearance in 2016. The midfielder played in 39 games in her two-year career at Buffalo State. In addition to tallying a goal and two assists, she was an integral part of the team’s defensive success that included 22 shutouts while posting a record 32-5-4 record during her career. Smolinski was named second team All-SUNYAC and to the SUNYAC Championship All-Tournament Team as a senior.
The award was created by the conference as a way to recognize student-athletes not only for their play on the field, but also for their effort in the classroom. Out of the hundreds of fall student-athletes that compete in the SUNYAC, eight were chosen for this special distinction.
To be eligible for the SUNYAC Scholar Athlete of the Year award, students must prove both academic and athletic excellence by obtaining a 3.30 overall GPA, being a starter or significant reserve for their team and hold at least a sophomore standing in their studies.
from BuffaloStateAthletics.com via IFTTT
