Colorado Springs, Colorado: The Billiard Education Foundation [BEF] and the Billiard Congress of America [BCA] released its roster of academic All-Americans, following recognition ceremonies at the recent Junior & Collegiate 9-Ball Championships in Tucson, Arizona. Twenty outstanding youngsters were selected to receive certificates of their achievement at the awards banquet held July 7, on the University of Arizona campus. [ view larger photo ]

The BEF supports and recognizes billiard student-athletes who excel both in the classroom and in competition, through both scholarship awards to first-year undergrads and with its All-American program. All-American honors are given to those who qualify for the BCA Junior Nationals, plus earn a minimum 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Students must complete an application and submit their report cards to be considered, and the students named below made the grade in the current academic year:

• Joseph Baker (Newton Square, Pa.)
• Robert Logan Elkins (Rowlett, Texas)
• William Howard (Richardson, Texas)
• Nicole Jaynes (Albuquerque, N.M.)
• Kurtis Larkin (Jackson, Miss.)
• Robert Marti (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
• Matt Menes (Tampa, Fla.)
• Mitchell Menes (Tampa, Fla.)
• Austin Murphy (Folsom, Calif.)
• Angelo Quadara (Staten Island, N.Y.)
• Daniel Rakin (Daly City, Calif.)
• Mary Rakin (Daly City, Calif.)
• Redante Rakin (Daly City, Calif.)
• Benjamin Reynolds (Little Rock, Ark.)
• Robert Landon Shuffett (Greensburg, Ky.)
• Rickey Smiley (Bolivar, Mo.)
• Kyle Smith (Lafayette, Colo.)
• Kevin Sun (Harvard, Mass.)
• Adam Tanner (Port Byron, N.Y.)
• Cory Taylor Wilson (Conway, Ark.)