Butler's Howard, Loyola's Staton Honored as U.S. Army Scholar-Athletes of the Week

Jan. 22, 2009

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INDIANAPOLIS -- Butler University basketball player Matt Howard and Loyola University Chicago distance runner Pam Staton have been named U.S. Army Horizon League Scholar-Athletes of the Week for the week ending Jan. 18, League commissioner Jonathan B. LeCrone announced Thursday (Jan. 22).

Howard (Connersville, Ind./Connersville), a sophomore, helped Butler to back-to-back victories last week as the #16/17 and League-leading Bulldogs extended their winning streak to eight and matched the best 17-game record (16-1) in school history. He recorded his third double-double of the season with 18 points and a game-high 11 rebounds in a victory at Loyola on Jan. 15. For the week, he averaged 12 points and 7.5 rebounds and shot 69 percent from the field.

In the classroom, Howard carries a 3.727 grade-point average as a finance major at Butler. He previously was named Horizon League Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Dec. 12 and Jan. 8.

Staton (Ingleside, Ill./Grant Community), a senior, placed second in the 800 meters with a time of 2:20.59 at the Notre Dame Indoor Opener on Jan. 16. She also recorded a personal-best time of 5:04.42 in the mile run at the event.

A psychology major, Staton owns a 3.63 grade-point average at Loyola. She previously earned the League's weekly scholar-athlete honor on Dec. 12. She also has earned recognition on the Horizon League Academic Honor Roll Honor Roll during her career.

The Horizon League instituted the U.S. Army Scholar-Athlete of the Week awards as a way to recognize outstanding academic and athletic achievement by its student-athletes. To be eligible for the honor, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.20 or better (on a 4.00 scale), have completed at least one year at the member institution, passed 24 semester or 36 quarter hours and perform well during the week's competition. Winners are selected by a group of League faculty athletic representatives, from nominations provided by sports information directors.