Armstrong Tabbed as Scholar Baller and ISSJ National Academic Momentum Recipient

ORLANDO, Fla. -- App State volleyball student-athlete Daryn Armstrong has been named as a recipient of the 2020/2021 Academic Momentum Award by the Scholar Baller program, in conjunction with the Institute for Sport & Social Justice (ISSJ).

Armstrong was named a member of the Third Team Academic Momentum Award.

Established in 1995, the Scholar Baller® movement evolved in response to concerns that the student-athlete's athletics role increasingly superseded the student role. Well before the Name Image and Likeness (NIL) movement, Scholar Baller in 2004 made history as the first organization to brand educational logos (ThinkMan^® and ThinkWoman^®) on NCAA and NAIA student-athlete jerseys, helmets, and uniforms during athletic competition. In order to address this issue, the founding members of Scholar Baller® developed a groundbreaking program to bridge the gap between education and sport utilizing student-athletes' passion for entertainment and athletics. As a result, the Scholar Baller® program continues to produce unprecedented outcomes in student retention, academic achievement, and career development. This is in part due to the organization's culturally relevant representation(s) of student-athlete academic performance outcomes through imagery and language. Other schools and conferences have imitated the Scholar Baller educational and "graduation stamp" of success on the jerseys and helmets.  

Top nominations were categorized into three teams based on each student-athlete's academic improvement and the impact each student-athlete's academic performance had on his or her classmates, teammates, academic advisors, and professors. A total of 27 male and female award recipients were selected for the Academic Momentum Award First Team, 18 recipients were chosen for the Academic Momentum Award Second Team, and 23 recipients were selected for the Academic Momentum Award Third Team.  

The Institute for Sport & Social Justice (ISSJ) is a national non-profit organization, on the University of Central Florida campus, that utilizes the passion and love for sport to create a safe environment to explore and discuss social justice issues. The mission of ISSJ is to "use the power of sport to effect positive social change. We educate and empower individuals and organizations by inspiring values-based thinking leading to actions that promote social responsibility and equality."  CHANGING LIVES THROUGH THE POWER OF SPORT! 

In three seasons, Armstrong has appeared in 27 matches registering 55 kills. She has totaled 52 blocks (47 assists, five solo) in her three seasons. This season, she appeared in seven contests, registering 14 kills and nine blocks (seven assists, two solo), before suffering a season ending injury.

First Team
Islam Abudl-Rabb, Lincoln University, Health Science, Football 
Caleb Asberry, Texas State University, Interdisciplinary Studies, Basketball 
Kam Babb, Ohio State University, Communication, Football 
Zoe Barnes, Villanova University, Psychology, Rowing 
Diamond Battles, University of Central Florida, Criminal Justice, Basketball 
John (JayJay) Chandler, Texas A&M University, University Studies-Leadership, Basketball 
Madison Cotta, Mississippi State University, Human Development and Family Science, Soccer 
Baylor Cupp, Texas A&M University, University Studies-Leadership, Football 
Wyatt Davis, Ohio State University, Communication, Football 
Kendall Dearth, Tarleton State University, Business, Football 
Nia Dennis, University of California Los Angeles, Sociology, Gymnastics 
Golden Eke, University of Louisiana-Lafayette, General Studies; Business Studies, Football; Track & Field 
Angel Gonzalez, American International College, Chemistry, Baseball 
Donovan Hewitt, Ohio State University, Political Science, Gymnastics 
Sarah Hofstetter, Loyola University, Psychology, Rowing 
Antwuan Jackson, Ohio State University, Sociology, Football 
Dominic Johnson, University of Buffalo, Education Studies, Football 
Jaylon Jones, Georgia State University, Human Learning Development, Football 
Maya LeBar, University of Utah, Political Science and Social Justice Certificate, Track & Field 
Celeste Loughman, University of Texas-San Antonio, MS – Business, Softball 
Daniel McKinley-Lewis, University of Toledo, MBA, Football 
Grisdey Paredes-Alvarez, Western New Mexico University, Business Management, Softball 
Juliunn Redmond, Illinois State University, Human Developmental Science, Basketball 
Nequareus Roberts-Simon, Livingstone College, Criminal Justice, Track & Field 
Dylan Swingle, Bowling Green State University, Sport Management, Basketball 
Valeria Tapia  , University of Texas-Rio, Spanish Translation, Basketball 
DayAndrea Thompson, Baylor University, Film and Digital Media, Acrobatic Tumbling 
 
Second Team
Aziza Ayoub, Ohio State University, Biology, Track & Field 
Jewel Boland, Southern Methodist University, Applied Physiology and Sport Management-Sport Performance Leadership, Soccer  
Blair Brooks, University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Kinesiology (Graduate Studies), Football 
Milan Brown, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Civil Engineering, Track & Field 
TJ Campbell, University of Central Arkansas, Health Education and Behavior Sciences, Football 
Channing Chastens, Ohio State University, Communication, Soccer 
Gabriel Decamps, University of Central Florida, Communication, Sport Business Minor, Tennis 
Madison Hansen, University of Charleston, Public Health, Soccer 
Zach Harrison, Ohio State University, Criminology, Football 
Aria Holmes, Tennessee State University, Health Sciences, Volleyball 
Maylene Hughes, Occidental College, Critical Theory and Social Justice, Basketball 
Chase Keng, University of Texas-San Antonio, Business - Management, Baseball 
Teigan O'Donnell, California State University San Marcos, Human Development, Track & Field 
Tylen Riley-Coleman, Western New Mexico University, Nursing, Football 
Malik Smith, Livingstone College, Business Administration – Accounting, Basketball 
Brit Spithaler, Edinboro University, Criminal Justice, Soccer 
Ethan Teixeira, American International College, Criminal Justice, Baseball 
Mary Thomas, University of Charleston, Exercise Science, Softball 
 
Third Team
Daryn Armstrong, Appalachian State University, Biology, Volleyball 
Josh Bankhead, Texas A&M University, University Studies-Leadership, Football 
Marvin Bragg, American University, Philosophy, Basketball 
Brittney Cummings, Livingstone College, Business Administration, Track & Field 
Haskell Garrett, Ohio State University, Human Development and Family Studies, Football 
Ana Gonzalez, University of Texas-San Antonio, Psychology, Golf 
Jewels Harris, Auburn University, Public Relations, Swimming 
Kelsee Holloway, Georgia State University, Psychology, Soccer 
Chloe Johnson, Ohio State University, Psychology, Lacrosse 
Dawand Jones, Ohio State University, Communication, Football 
Jocelyn Jones, Georgia State University, Exercise Science, Soccer 
Britney Lovato, Western New Mexico University, Elementary Education, Cross Country 
Teradja Mitchell, Ohio State University, Fashion and Retail Studies, Football 
Chris Olave, Ohio State University, Consumer Family Financial Services, Football 
George Proctor, Georgia State University, Health and Physical Education, Soccer 
Gunther Rankenburg, Georgia State University, Marketing, Soccer 
Max Rodeny, Ohio State University, Journalism, Fencing 
Christian Sepulveda, University of Texas-Rio, Kinesiology, Baseball 
Brooke Shields, Ohio State University, Political Science, Cheer 
Zaccheus Spann, Virginia Union University, Entrepreneur Management, Golf 
Louis Theys, West Carolina University, Mathematics, Golf 
Tyquon Wilkins, Virginia State University, Sport Management, Baseball 
Alex Wright, Ohio State University, Communication, Golf