UMBC

Printer Friendly  Email This Page
News Release

Alice Chen Earns Trio of Awards, Including Academic All-District Women's At-Large First Team Honor

5/20/2010

UMBC women’s tennis standout Alice Chen (North Potomac, Md./Quince Orchard) received a trio of academic honors this week, earning places on ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All-District women's at-large first team, the America East Conference’s All-Academic team and she was awarded a 2010 Maryland Association of College Directors of Athletics (MACDA) postgraduate scholarships.

Chen will now receive consideration for Academic All-America honors from ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All-America® program. That program is administered by the College Sports Information Directors (CoSIDA) of America. She was one of ten women in District II to earn first team all-district honors.

Chen was one of six women’s tennis players in the America East Conference to earn a spot on the league’s All-Academic team. Playing at the No. 1 singles slot, she posted a brilliant record of 16-6 in her senior campaign. A repeat winner from the spring of 2009, she was a second-team all-conference selection in doubles competition and is maintaining a 4.00 grade-point average in biochemistry and molecular biology.

All-Academic squads for team sports are based on the number of athletes that participate in a contest at one time (example: six players in tennis) or are made up of 10 student-athletes for individual sports. There may be more student-athletes recognized if a tie exists or fewer if eligibility requirements limit the number of nominees. To be nominated for the distinction, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve for their team and participate in at least 50 percent of their team’s games or competitions. In the classroom, student-athletes must have a 3.30 GPA and have completed at least one calendar year at their institution.

The MACDA postgraduate scholarships recognize three student-athletes for superior work in the classroom and on the field.  The honorees represent three Maryland institutions of higher learning and differing levels of NCAA competition.  Each recipient will receive a non-renewable, one-time grant of $500 upon their enrollment in a postgraduate program. Chen is the Division I recipient of the award.

Chen was a three-time member of the America East Commissioner’s Honor Roll.  She was named to both the President’s and Dean’s Lists every semester of her academic career.  Her extracurricular activities included volunteering at St. Agnes Hospital and serving as a biochemistry lab prep assistant treasurer.  Chen will be attending the University of Maryland's School of Medicine this fall.  Ultimately, she wants to help as many people as she can, and impact the lives of both her family and her future patients.