SSU MBOWL places program-record six on NAIA Scholar-Athlete list

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The men's bowling program at Shawnee State set a new program standard in terms of individuals who obtained NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors -- as a total of six individuals, including Sam Clay, Ashton Heckman, Zach Ison, Blake Landers, Parker Lauders and Andrew Schoener -- were all named to the NAIA Scholar-Athlete list, as announced by national officials Wednesday.

Lauders, a standout scholar who heads the group with a 3.86 GPA, has earned over 95 hours of academic credit as a computer engineering technology major.  In less than three years' time, Lauders presented at the Shawnee State University Celebration of Scholarship – where he published an abstract on the University Digital Commons page – met with Ohio State Senators to discuss grants for advancing university labs, and was a presenter at TechFest 2024 in Dayton, where Lauders showcased a self-driving power wheels car. At the same TechFest 2024 event, Lauders helped the event achieve record attendance as an organizer, while also monitoring membership status and planning and conducting meetings as part of being Vice President of the University Computer Society's Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Chapter.

These accomplishments, among others, allowed Lauders to earn the 2024 Presidential Award for Innovation -- as awarded by Shawnee State University officials last spring. Landers has consistently been in the primary Shawnee State bowling lineup since his arrival on campus.

Landers, a sophomore who graduated from nearby Coal Grove (Dawson-Bryant) High School, is next in line, having obtained a 3.82 GPA in health sciences with over 40 credits on his card. Zach Ison, a sophomore in playing eligibility but a junior academically already with over 65 credits earned as a student, holds a 3.74 GPA in plastics engineering technology. Ison also holds a 201 bowling average on the lanes, which is presently the third-highest single season average in program history.

Senior Sam Clay, who has notched a 3.67 GPA in exercise science, holds over 100 credit hours. The Huntington High School alum presently has the highest bowling average in a single season in Shawnee State men's bowling history, notching a 206.7 so far during the 2024-25 campaign.

Ashton Heckman, a junior from Maumee, and Andrew Schoener, a sophomore from nearby Ironton, hold GPAs of 3.62 and 3.58 respectively. Heckman has earned over 80 credits as a graphic design major, while Schoener posted over 50 credits as a computer aided and drafting design (CADD) major.

To be eligible for NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors, a student-athlete must hold a GPA of 3.5 or above, be of sophomore or greater academic standing and have attended their current institution for at least one calendar year at the time of nomination.