GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Over an 11-day span during the month of June, Gettysburg College had four student-athletes earn the title of Academic All-American, giving way to the No. 3 moment on the athletic department's top-10 list of 2008-09.

Rising seniors Tim Kurpis (Yorktown, N.Y./Yorktown), Nicole Ditillo (Baldwin, Md./Fallston), and Kerrin Epstein (Moravia, N.Y./Moravia) and graduate Tyler Kreitz (Hanover, Pa./New Oxford) were each tabbed Academic All-Americans in June, marking the most single-season selections in school history.

Whereas most awards are based solely on the athlete's on-field accomplishments, the Academic All-America program takes into account the student-athlete's merits on the field and in the classroom. It's a very competitive process given the number of institutions across the country and the small number of award winners, according to Assistant Director of Athletics Susan Fumagalli, who has worked with the Academic All-America program since 1995, serving as a district coordinator, national coordinator, and most recently as Vice Chair of Awards.

“Gettysburg student-athletes are shining examples of the scholar-athlete model,” commented Fumagalli. “Their credentials speak for themselves and resonate with the voters at the district and national levels.”

Each of Gettysburg's four selections carried cumulative grade point averages just below and even above a perfect 4.0. Their selections carried significant weight from their respective sports of expertise, with all four earning All-Centennial Conference accolades. Kurpis was also tabbed an All-American by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA), while Ditillo and Epstein each copped all-region honors in women's lacrosse and cross country, respectively.

Sixteen of Gettysburg's 20 Academic All-America selections have come since 2002 and the school has landed a coveted post-graduate scholarship in each of the last three years. With three of this year's Academic All-Americans returning and a long list of up-and-coming, well-rounded student-athletes, Fumagalli fully expects Gettysburg to continue to reap academic accolades.

“Having earned that credential once, it can certainly strengthen their nomination during their senior season,” she said. “Also, looking at our crop of rising sophomores and juniors, Gettysburg is well positioned to be represented on the district and national ballots in the future.”