Barr Tabbed 2016-17 BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award Winner

BIG EAST Release 

Liberty field hockey student-athlete Serena Barr was one of 22 BIG EAST Conference student-athletes to be recognized as a 2016-17 BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award winner, as announced by the league on Wednesday.

Barr was one of 22 BIG EAST student-athletes to be named a Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Award winner. (Photo credit: Mitch Leff)

The Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards are handed out to one student-athlete in each BIG EAST sponsored sport based on academic credentials, athletic accomplishments and volunteer service to the community. Barr was the lone BIG EAST field hockey student-athlete to receive the recognition among the conference's eight teams, chosen by the BIG EAST Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) Council.

The list of 22 athletes features 16 seniors, four juniors and two graduate students. Barr graduated summa cum laude from Liberty in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in public health and a perfect 4.00 GPA.

"Serena continually displays excellence through her commitment to achievement academically, socially and athletically," stated Liberty Senior Associate Athletics Director – Academic Affairs Kristie Beitz. "Her ability to motivate her peers to perform at a superior level is a reflection of her leadership and commitment to excellence."

During the summer months, Barr has continued to collect accolades. The Lurgan, Northern Ireland, native was selected to the 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District™ III Women's At-Large Team and received the Big South Conference's prestigious Christenberry Award for Academic Excellence in the month of May.

In June, Barr was named to the 2016-17 CoSIDA Academic All-America® At-Large second team. She also was nominated for the NCAA Woman of the Year award, one of 229 Division I student-athletes nominated for the prestigious award. Earlier in July, Barr was one of six Liberty student-athletes to earn a spot on the 2016-17 Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) Academic All-State Team.

Seton Hall paced the BIG EAST with five honorees, followed by Villanova with four and Butler with three. Liberty (Barr) and Temple (Brenda McDermott, women's lacrosse) were the two affiliate members represented in the 2016-17 BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete Sport Excellence Awards winners.