July 5, 2007

Wayne State University pitchers Kyle Hill (Mississauga, Ont./St. Michael's) and Dan Barnes (Grand Ledge, Mich.) were each chosen to receive an NCAA Division II Degree Completion Award.

The purpose of this program is to provide financial assistance to deserving student-athletes with completion of a first baccalaureate degree. Eligible candidates are students who have exhausted their athletics eligibility at an NCAA Division II institution within the past calendar year, have received athletics financial aid from that institution, and intend to use the grant to complete degree requirements from the institution where the applicant last competed.

Dan Barnes

The selection process for the national award emphasizes the academic performance of the student-athlete. Applicants must have a 2.50 cumulative grade-point average and must be within 30 semester or 45 quarters hours of undergraduate degree completion. Other factors considered are financial circumstances, athletic achievement and involvement in campus and community activities.

Hill, an English major, and Barnes, a management major, completed their respective WSU athletic careers this past spring. Both are three-time GLIAC All-Academic Team selections in baseball while Barnes, a dual-sport athlete, garnered GLIAC All-Academic honors three times in football as well as two CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team awards.