TOLEDO, Ohio — Three University of Toledo student-athletes were named Distinguished Scholar Athletes from the 2019-20 winter season by the Mid-American Conference. The awards were received following strong contributions in the field of competition and exemplary work in the classroom.

Women's indoor track & field athletes Rayna Horner and Petronela Simuic were named Distinguished Scholar Athletes, as was Izzy Jones from the women's swimming & diving team.

The Distinguished Scholar Athlete is given to student-athletes who have excelled in athletics and academics. Following each season, any student-athlete with a 3.20 GPA and participation in at least 50 percent of the contests is automatically named to the Academic All-MAC Team for each sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.     

New for this 2019-20 academic season, the selection for the Distinguished Scholar Athlete included all student-athletes that were recognized as All-MAC selections and Academic All-MAC selections from their respective sport, along with maintaining a 3.50 GPA and above.  Previously, a voting process among the MAC Faculty Athletic Representatives determined the selection of the Distinguished Scholar Athletes.  MAC membership voted for the change in recognizing the Distinguished Scholar Athletes during the Conference Spring meetings in June of 2019.

2019-20 MAC Winter Sports Distinguished Scholar Athletes - Toledo Honorees

Women's Indoor Track & Field
Rayna Horner, Sophomore, 3.774 GPA, Pre-Social Work (Covington, Ohio)
Petronela Simiuc, Senior, 3.695 GPA, Health Promotion and Education (Bacau, Romania)

Women's Swimming & Diving
Izzy Jones, Toledo, 3.734 GPA, Kinesiology (Ivinghoe, England)