Several hundred Penn State athletes and coaches gathered together in The Bryce Jordan auxiliary gym Tuesday night to watch more than 200 fellow athletes receive awards at the Academic Achievement Awards Banquet

"The banquet exemplifies Penn State's long-standing tradition of academic and athletic excellence," said director Diana Kenepp.

"The annual banquet is the only time during the year when all student athletes can be together at one event."

According to Kenepp, 50 percent of student athletes at Penn State have a GPA of at least 3.0.

"We have consistently had the largest number of conference academic honorees and have the highest graduation rate of athletes in all public division one institutions," Kenepp said.

Twenty-three students who excel in all of these areas were honored as Spiritus Leoninus (Spirit of the Lion) initiates.

A team academic achievement award was given to the team that had the highest GPA as a whole. This year, the men's golf team took that category, making it the first men's sport in ten years to earn the award.

"We take pride in our work and put in time with our academics and stay pretty balanced," Penn State golfer Mike Saporito said. "Working hard carries over to our class work."

The Varsity 'S' Team, which strives to continually unite former athletes with their teammates and coaches, also recognized the academic excellence of the golf team with an award, as well as that of the women's tennis team.

"It's great to be recognized. It culminates our work," said Saporito.

"If you put in the time, you get rewards."

One of the more unique awards that is given anually at the ceremony is the Nittany Lion True Grit Award, given to an athlete who has overcome exceptional struggles in order to achieve athletic and academic distinction.

Jennifer Bailey was diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy in 1996, leaving her powerless to do even the most basic tasks, let alone fence, which is what she came to Penn State to do.

However, after persevering through surgeries, therapy, numerous treatments and rehabilitation, she is back on the fencing roster this year, and is continuing to stand out academically. School, friends and athletics were big motivators in bringing her back to school as qucikly as possible.

"I wanted to be back with friends and be normal and doing what I was supposed to be doing, not sitting at home," she said.

"I have learned that everything happens for a reason."