Three FSU Student-Athletes Receive GLIAC Commissioner's Award

Big Rapids, Mich. - Three Ferris State University student-athletes have been recognized as recipients of the fall 2012 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Meijer Commissioner’s Award.

The awards, sponsored by Meijer, Incorporated, are presented after the Fall, Winter, and Spring athletic seasons to six male and six female student-athletes that excel both in the classroom and on the fields of play. All grade point averages are based on a 4.0 scale.

Ferris State's honorees include senior volleyball student-athletes Samantha Fordyce (DeWitt) and Anne Sutton (Grand Rapids/Northview) along with senior men's cross country runner Ryan Chute (Waterford/Mott).

“It is with great pleasure that I offer congratulations on behalf of the GLIAC to our 12 award winners,” stated GLIAC Commissioner Dell Robinson. “The accomplishments of the 12 student-athletes is a shining example of the future leaders and individuals who serve as change agents on our campuses. I would like thank Meijer for their continued support that allows the GLIAC to honor our top student-athletes.”

The six female student-athletes to receive the Fall 2012 Meijer Commissioner’s Awards included:  Fordyce and Sutton of Ferris State; Brittany Snyder of Ashland; Melanie Hoffman of Michigan Tech; Shara Perry of Ohio Dominican, and Lauren Hill of Saginaw Valley State University.

The six male student-athletes to receive the Fall 2012 Meijer Commissioner’s Awards are: FSU's Chute; Donnie Dottei of Ashlan; Tyler White of Ohio Dominican; Zach Myers of Saginaw Valley State; along with Mickey Mohner and Nick Thomas of Wayne State.

Ferris State was the only conference member to have three individuals honored.  A total of only six of the 16 conference members had at least one individual recognized with Saginaw Valley State, Ashland and Wayne State having two selections each.

Below are brief biographical sketches on each of FSU's three honorees:

Ferris State University senior volleyball player Samantha Fordyce (DeWitt, Mich.) was a two-time recipient of the DII Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award.  The 2012 AVCA Honorable Mention All-Region honoree helped the Bulldogs advance to their third NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four seasons and a second-straight berth in the regional semifinals. Fordyce started all 122 of her matches at the collegiate level. She posted season assist totals that ranked among the program’s top 15 single-season efforts during each of her four campaigns. A Daktronics All-Region selection in 2012 and a two-time All-GLIAC First Team pick, Fordyce has a 3.57 grade point as an optometry major and has been named to the FSU Dean’s List.
Anne Sutton (Grand Rapids, Mich./Northview), a senior volleyball player at Ferris State University, was an AVCA Division II Honorable Mention All-American in 2012.  Sutton was ranked among the GLIAC leaders in blocks, kills, and was the overall attack percentage leader this season.  She also ranked among the nation’s top 10 players with a .388 attack percentage. She helped the bulldogs to their third NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four seasons and a second-straight berth in the regional semifinals. A two-time GLIAC All-Academic Team selection, Sutton totaled 10 or more kills in 20 matches this campaign. Additionally, she's received the President’s Academic Award for holding the team’s highest grade point average. Working toward a Masters in Business Administration, Sutton has earned a 3.85 grade point average.
Ryan Chute (Waterford, Mich. /Mott), a senior from Ferris State University, helped lead his team to its first Division II National Championship appearance in Cross Country since 1985. He placed 19th overall in the Division II Midwest Regional Championships to earn All-Region accolades and help FSU to a D-II National Championship berth. Chute helped lead the Bulldogs to a 13th place finish at the NCAA Division II Championships. He would finish as FSU’s number three runner at the national championships. A GLIAC All-Academic Team honoree, Chute is currently holding a 3.78 grade point average and majoring in pharmacy PD.