McKendree University

Breanna Sampo of Peru, Ill., has been awarded a Fellowship worth $8,500 by The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi - the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Sampo is one of 62 recipients nationwide to receive a Phi Kappa Phi Fellowship.

The McKendree University men's and women's swimming teams earned Scholar All-America status from the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). McKendree was one of 424 schools in all divisions and levels (NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA) to receive the award and one of 46 NCAA Division II schools that had both their men's and women's teams selected. During the 2021 spring semester, the Bearcat men amassed 3.42 cumulative GPA, while the Bearcat women posted a 3.64 cumulative GPA. The 3.64 GPA posted by the Bearcat women was the third highest among GLVC schools. Eleven student-athletes were named to the 2020-21 CSCAA NCAA Division II Scholar All-America Team. First-Team honorees included: Henrik Dahrendorff, Gr., Beckum, Germany/SC Magdeburg Fabio Dalu, So., Cagliari, Italy/Liceo L.B. Alberti Cagliari Hallie Dixon, Jr., Jeffersonville, Ind./Jeffersonville Ethan Larson, Jr., Anchorage, Alaska/PAIDAIE Cooperative School Gregg Lichinsky, Jr., West Des Moines, Iowa/West Des Moines Valley Xander Skinner, Sr., Namibia, Africa/Windhoek Afrikaans Private School Honorable Mention honorees included: John Bodden, Jr., George Town, Cayman Islands/Cayman Prep and High Charlie Fraser-Allen, Jr., London, England/Highgate Wood Secondary School Abigail Rumpp, Jr., Knoxville, Tenn./L&N STEM Academy Victoria Sananikone, Sr., Cedar Park, Texas/Cedar Park Taras Zherebetskyy, Jr., Alghero, Sardegna, Italy/ITS "Angelo Roth" The award recognizes students who achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and were invited to compete at their respective national championship. To qualify for First-Team Scholar All-America, student-athletes must have earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher and participated in their national championship. Second-Team selections (also called Honorable Mention) must have also earned a 3.50 GPA or higher and achieved a "B" time standard for the national championship or participated at a diving zone qualification meet.