(FAYETTEVILLE, N.C.) - Each year the USA South Athletic Conference presents its most prestigious awards by honoring one male and one female as the Student-Athletes of the Year as these athletes receive the Don Scalf Award. The 2009 winners are Shenandoah University softball player Catherine Beuerle and Greensboro College men's soccer player Andrew Clark. To be eligible for the Don Scalf Award a student-athlete must be either a junior or senior, have participated in a USA South sport earning at least All-Conference recognition and have a minimum 3.00 GPA. The athletic directors vote for the award winner each spring at the conclusion of all Conference schedules.

This award is named in honor of Don Scalf, whose commitment to the student-athlete, guardianship of the value of academic achievement and devotion to the principles of Division III athletics set a standard that holds steadfast in the Conference today. He taught for 36 years and coached for 18 at N.C. Wesleyan College. He also served as Athletic Director at N.C. Wesleyan for six years. During his coaching career his teams won Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference basketball and golf championships. In addition, he was a founding father of the DIAC in 1963 and served as its Secretary-Treasurer for 25 years.

Catherine Beuerle- Shenandoah

Throughout her four years at Shenandoah, Beuerle has succeeded on the softball field and in the classroom. While earning a perfect 4.0 cumulative grade point average, Beuerle was recently named to the USA South Academic All-Conference Team for the fourth time. Additionally, she earned her second consecutive ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American honor, becoming the first Shenandoah student-athlete to accomplish such a feat. She has appeared on SU's Dean's List eight times and collected numerous academic honors during her academic career. Athletically, Beuerle was a two-sport athlete for the Hornets, competing on the volleyball court for two years in addition to four years as a softball player. Primarily as a catcher on the softball team, Beuerle achieved USA South All-Conference status three times, was a two-time member of the USA South All-Tournament Team and was named the Shenandoah Student-Athlete of the Year twice. Beuerle also gave time to the community by serving as a physical-therapy volunteer and participating in a summer mission trip to New Orleans.

Andrew Clark- Greensboro

         

At Greensboro, Clark has excelled both on and off the soccer pitch. In the classroom, the junior currently holds a 3.86 grade point average. He received his third consecutive USA South All-Academic Team honor this season and was named a 2008 NCSAA/Adidas Academic All-American. Clark earned the Craven E. Williams Award which is the highest honor bestowed upon a Greensboro College student-athlete. Athletically, Clark received USA South First Team All-Conference and NSCAA All-South Region honors this past year. In addition, he was named the team's Most Valuable Player. This past spring, Clark totaled 23 points on a team-high ten goals with three assists. Clark volunteered his time for many organizations, including the Guilford United Futbol Club and the Bryan Family YMCA.