HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. – The Centenary University Department of Athletics announced that Jessica McKenzie and Nicholas Grifone have been named the Cyclone Scholar Athletes of the Year.

The Scholar Athletes of the Year were selected from the junior and senior student-athletes with the highest cumulative GPAs.

"This award epitomizes what is means to a true scholar-athlete," said Travis Spencer, the Director of Athletics. "Jess and Nicholas work very hard in the classroom and on the playing surface. They lead by example and we are very proud of their accomplishments."

McKenzie, who is a member of the women's basketball team, carries a 3.946 cumulative GPA as an environmental science major. Earlier this spring McKenzie was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team, which recognizes players for their accomplishments on the court and off.

McKenzie has played in 49 of a possible 52 games during her first two years and helped the Cyclones make the playoffs in each of those seasons. She is averaging 10.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in her career while shooting 49.7 percent from the field. McKenzie earned Second Team All-Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) honors as a freshman.

McKenzie has also excelled in the classroom where she twice won the Excellence in Science award, which is given to one of the top student-athletes in the science program. She has earned Dean's List accolades in five of her first six semesters.

Grifone, who is a member of the baseball team, carries a 3.74 cumulative GPA as a criminal justice major. This spring, Grifone saw time as both the catcher and designated hitter for a Cyclone squad that qualified for the CSAC Tournament for the first time since 2013.

Grifone hit .270 with eight RBIs and four doubles. He cracked the first home run of the year for the Cyclones against Keystone. Grifone also hit the first home run in the history of Our Diamond of Dreams for the Cyclones last spring.

Off the field, Grifone was inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma honor society for student-athletes this past spring. He was named to the Dean's List this past fall.