ESU Academic Awards history

EAST STROUDSBURG - East Stroudsburg University redshirt senior offensive lineman Devon Ackerman has been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America first team, becoming the first three-time first-team Academic All-America in any sport in school history.

Ackerman (Hanover, Pa./South Western), a Biochemistry and Chemical Biotechnology major with a 4.0 grade-point average through eight semesters at ESU, is the fifth ESU student-athlete and first football student-athlete to earn three Academic All-America citations.

Last month, he joined linebacker Matt Freed (2008-10) as the only three-time Academic All-District honorees for the Warriors football program.

Ackerman started all 44 games of his career on the offensive line, becoming the fifth ESU player in the last 15 years to start every game in his four seasons. He started at center the last two seasons (2016-17) after opening at left guard in 2014 and 2015, following a redshirt season in 2013.

He was previously named a national semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy, and is a two-time PSAC Top 10 selection.

ESU's other three-time Academic All-America recipients are Laura Mason (women's track and field/cross country - 1983-85), Katie Horst (women's at-large/field hockey - spring 1997-99), Rose Mascoli (women's track and field/cross country - 2011-13) and Alex Zubko (men's track and field/cross country - 2015-17).

Ackerman is one of eight PSAC student-athletes named to the Academic All-America team, and one of three on the first team, along with running back Colin McDermott (Shippensburg) and offensive lineman Ryan Michaels (Mercyhurst). Second team selections are quarterback Ryan Zapoticky (Shippensburg), wide receiver Brad Novak (Mercyhurst), kick Will Brazill (California), defensive lineman Marcus Martin (Slippery Rock) and defensive back Mike Pietropola (IUP).


About the Academic All-District and Academic All-America program

ESU is tied for second in the PSAC with 103 Academic All-District selections in the last 10 years (2007-08 through 2016-17), and is third with 42 Academic All-America selections in that time frame.

ESU had eight Academic All-District selections last year, and six Academic all-America recipients - senior back Andrea Polanco (women's soccer - 2nd team), senior back Hannah Gombos (women's soccer - 3rd team), Ackerman (football - 1st team), senior back Emiliy Howell (women's at-large/field hockey - 2nd team), senior goalkeeper Danielle Ard (women's at-large/field hockey - 3rd team) and Zubko (men's track & field/cross country - 1st team). Also earning Academic All-District honors were senior midfielder Shea Neal (women's soccer) and junior midfielder Christian Bukowski (men's soccer).

ESU has four Academic All-District selections this year - junior forward Alex Pickett (women's soccer), senior back James McMahon (men's soccer) and Ackerman and redshirt senior linebacker Mike Wiand (football).

Including this year, 100 ESU student-athletes have combined for 148 Academic All-District selections.

A total of 46 student-athletes have combined for 66 Academic All-America awards, including 30 combining for 42 selections from 2008-09 through 2016-17.


ESU 3-time Academic All-America
1983-85 - Laura Mason (women's track & field/cross country)
1997-99 (spring) - Katie Horst (women's at-large/field hockey)
2011-13 - Rose Mascoli (women's track & field/cross country)
2015-17 - Alex Zubko (men's track & field/cross country)
2015-17 - Devon Ackerman (football)