The NCAA News - News and Features

May 5, 1997

Four to be inducted into GTE academic hall of fame

Four outstanding former student-athletes, including an Olympic triple gold-medalist swimmer, two renowned football players and a championship gymnast, will be inducted into the GTE Academic All-America Hall of Fame May 6 in ceremonies in Los Angeles.

The inductees are Todd Blackledge (Pennsylvania State University, 1983, speech communications), a quarterback who in 1982 led the Nittany Lions to their first national championship; Tracy Caulkins Stockwell (University of Florida, 1985, telecommunications), who won three swimming gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games; Tim Foley (Purdue University, 1970, industrial economics), a three-time all-Big Ten Conference defensive back who starred on two Miami Dolphins Super Bowl champion teams; and Dr. Ellen Mayer Sabik (Cornell University, 1983, biology), a four-year gymnastics letter-winner who has forged a successful career in cardiology.

The four, who compose the GTE Academic All-America Hall of Fame's 10th anniversary class, join 40 previous inductees and three honorary members.

"The members of the GTE Academic All-America Hall of Fame's 10th anniversary class serve as shining examples for today's student-athletes," said Charles R. Lee, GTE chairman and chief executive officer.

To be eligible for the hall of fame, an athlete must have been a GTE Academic All-America team member with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.000 on a 4.000 scale. In addition, a nominee's class must have been graduated for at least 10 years. Hall of fame selections are also based on career and community achievements.

Four individuals who have played significant roles in the inductees' lives will present the awards. They are Joe Paterno (Blackledge), head football coach at Penn State; John Naber (Caulkins Stockwell), four-time Olympic swimming gold medalist; Bill Arnsparger (Foley), the Dolphins' defensive coordinator during Foley's tenure; and Dr. Eric Topol (Mayer Sabik), chair of the cardiology department at the Cleveland Clinic.

The Academic All-America teams program was established by the College Sports Information Directors of America in 1952 to honor those college student-athletes who excel both in the classroom and on the athletics field. GTE has been exclusive sponsor of the team since 1985.