Sliva, Taylor earn NJCAA academic honors

Amanda L. Booren -- June 20, 2012

HOUSTON – San Jacinto College baseball players Benjamin Sliva and Kirby Taylor have been named National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) athletes of distinction, the organization announced this week. Formerly the NJCAA Academic All-American honors, the NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Awards recognize student-athletes for their success in the classroom.

Sliva, a sophomore pitcher from Katy (Taylor HS) posted a perfect 4.0 GPA to earn the Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence. Taylor, a redshirt freshman infielder from Bellaire (Bellaire HS / Texas A&M University) posted a 3.77 GPA to earn Exemplary Academic Achievement.

Each year, the NJCAA awards student-athletes that meet requirements for individual academic honors. This year, nearly 60,000 student-athletes competed in the NJCAA on more than 3,500 teams in 28 different sports. More than 1,680 received academic honors. For a complete list of the 2011-12 NJCAA Academic Student-Athlete Awards, visit the NJCAA website.

About NJCAA

Since 1938 the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) has been the governing body of two-year college athletics, offering athletic and academic opportunities to college students. Now entering its 75^th anniversary, the NJCAA is the second largest national intercollegiate athletic organization in the United States with over 500 member schools in 43 states. Each year over 60,000 student-athletes compete in one of 28 different sports and the organization sponsors 48 national championship events and nine football bowl games. NJCAA headquarters has been located in Colorado Springs, Colo., since 1985. For more information visit www.njcaa.org.

About San Jacinto College

Surrounded by monuments of history, industries and maritime enterprises of today, and the space age of tomorrow, San Jacinto College has been serving the citizens of East Harris County, Texas, for more than 50 years. The Achieving the Dream Leader College is committed to the goals and aspirations of a diverse population of 30,000 students in more than 200 degree and certificate options, including university transfer and career preparation. Students also benefit from the College’s job training programs, renowned for meeting the needs of growing industries in the region. San Jacinto College graduates contribute nearly $630 million each year to the Texas workforce. San Jacinto College. Your Goals. Your College.

For more information about San Jacinto College, please call 281-998-6150, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.