Sixteen regional winners of the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award have been announced.

The award, sponsored by Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, provides the opportunity for Division II to highlight the extraordinary achievements of its student-athletes. A male and female Division II Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be selected from the 16 regional winners, eight men and eight women.

Bob Hiegert, Division II CCA president and commissioner of the California Collegiate Athletic Association, said the award showcases the talent at the NCAA Division II level. "Division II has the best of both worlds," Hiegert said, "great athletes and great students."

The commissioners from the regions that compose the Division II basketball alignment selected the regional winners. To be nominated, student-athletes must have attained a 3.000 career cumulative grade-point average and must possess outstanding athletic credentials.

The eight women's regional winners include Andrea Beauvais, American International College; Zoila Gomez, Adams State College; Kate Hamera, University of Missouri, Rolla; Adrienn Hegedus, Brigham Young University; Lindsay Hinson, Wingate University; Karyn Mc Cready, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania; Krystal Poulin, Southern Arkansas University; and Becky Richards, Ashland University.

Men's regional winners are Neil Baumgartner, Saginaw Valley State University; Nick Branting, University of Nebraska at Kearney; Brian Castagna, Bentley College; Scott George, Concord College; Greg Mason, Kennesaw State University; Tyler Paul, Emporia State University; Jerett Skrifvars, Montana State University-Billings; and Mark Thompson Rollins College.

"Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex has become a destination for top collegiate athletics, particularly at the Division II level," said Fred Schoeler, sports account manager for Disney Sports Attractions. "Having worked with the Division II Commissioners Association on the creation of Disney's Division II Men's and Women's Tip Off Classic basketball tournaments, we are thrilled to continue our involvement with the Scholar-Athlete Award, which honors the academic and athletic accomplishments of Division II's top student-athletes."