John Amaechi usually hears applause after throwing down a rim-rattling dunk or grabbing a key rebound. But Monday night at the Seventh Annual Academic Achievement Awards Banquet in Holuba Hall, Amaechi and 141 other student-athletes were applauded for excellence in the classroom and community rather than on the playing field.

"This is our oppurtunity to recognize the academic achievements of our studentathletes," said Diana Kenepp, director of the Academic Support Center for Student Athletes, which helped in preparing the event.

Penn State's Student-Athlete Advisory Board sponsors and organizes the banquet, which has grown from 86 awards given in 1988 to 176 awards handed out this year. For the first time, the Nittany Lion Club co-sponsored the event, which enabled more than 600 student-athletes to attend.

"Without their funding and co-sponsorship, this would've never happened," said SAAB President Michael Chang.

Academic awards were given to student-athletes who acheived a 3.0 grade point average or better for the 1992-93 scholastic year. All-Big Ten, senior and several other special awards were given. Placekicker Craig Fayak received three community service awards by the Nittany Lion Club. The women's swimming team received the award for the highest team GPA for the second consecutive year.

Several of the student-athletes awarded were glad to be recognized for off-the-field activities.

"It's always special to get honored off the court, especially for academics," Amaechi said. "(The fans) lose sight of the fact that we do go to school."

Lauren Brant, honoree and the SAAB member who was most responsible for organizing the event, expressed similar gratitude. "To be recognized academically, especially in front of your peers, is a great honor," she said.