Atkins Named CoSIDA Academic All-American®

COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA® RELEASE | ENDICOTT ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA HONOREES

BEVERLY, Mass. – Endicott softball student-athlete Peyton Atkins (Goshen, N.Y.) has been named to the 2020 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America® Division III Softball Third Team, as announced by the organization earlier today.

Atkins is now the first CoSIDA Academic All-American in softball program history and the 14th student-athlete overall to receive the honor in Endicott athletics history. 

Additionally, Atkins was only one of five student-athletes from the New England region named to this year's CoSIDA Academic All-America® Division III Softball Team and the only representative on the list from the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC).

She also was one of 18 of the 34 members selected to the 2020 Academic All-America® Division III softball teams to have at least a 3.90 cumulative grade point average (GPA) or better, while five student-athletes sported a perfect 4.00 GPA. 

The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program is the longest-running and most prestigious academic and athlete award for student-athletes. The program receives 20,000 nominations yearly and selects 4,000 all-district and 1,500 All-America honorees each year. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program was established in 1952.

PEYTON ATKINS | SR. | C | GOSHEN, N.Y.

Academically, Atkins boasts a 3.92 cumulative grade point average (GPA) as a biology & biotechnology major at Endicott. 

Upon graduation from Endicott, Atkins will attend the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine to obtain her doctorate in veterinary medicine.

Atkins' other academic accomplishments/pursuits as a Gull include her thesis on "Evaluating the Effects of Human Handling Methods on Equine Stress Behaviors," induction into the Phi Sigma Biological and Mortar Board Honor Societies, two CCC Academic All-Conference awards, selection to the Endicott College Scholars Program, and participation in the LIGHThouse Leadership Society and the Biotech Society.

In addition to those items, Atkins has served as a peer tutor and student note taker for Endicott's Division of Academic Success, participated in Relay for Life at the College for four years, and volunteered with Beautiful People (adaptive sports for children with disabilities) since 2012.

She also has completed internships at the Valley Cottage Animal Hospital (veterinary assistant/receptionist/kennel attendant), Windrush Farm (veterinary intern/therapeutic riding assistant), Equilibrium Veterinary Services (veterinary intern), Pfizer (in-vivo oncology laboratory assistant), VCA Orange County Veterinary Hospital (veterinary intern), Pine Bush Equine (veterinary intern), and Bear Mountain Zoo and Historical Society (zookeeping intern).

Meanwhile, her lab skills include the following: in-vivo animal studies with mice, necropsy, blood handling and sampling, prep for automated machine analysis, next-generation DNA sequencing with Illumina MiSeq, agilent bioanalyzer, ELISA, DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis, PCR, reverse transcription PCR, Western Blot, spectrophotometry, cell-based assay, aseptic technique, cell culture, tissue culture, and pipetting.

Athletically, Atkins boasts a .278/.394/.392 slash line (.avg/.obp/.slg) as a catcher to go along with 31 runs scored, 44 hits, 10 doubles, one triple, two home runs, 22 RBI, 22 walks, and three stolen bases in 68 career games. Defensively, Atkins has a .982 fielding percentage (234 PO, 38 A, 5 E, 277 TC) and has thrown out 15 base runners.

Atkins currently ranks third all-time lowest stolen base percentage against (.545) and runners picked off, seventh in runners caught stealing, No. 19 in highest fielding percentage, and No. 20 in putouts (234).

CoSIDA Academic All-America® Program 

CoSIDA began the distinguished Academic All-America® program in 1952, and since then, has honored thousands of deserving student-athletes from numerous sports across all divisions with these elite Academic All-America® scholar-athlete honors.

Currently, CoSIDA sponsors Academic All-America® programs for men's soccer, women's soccer, football, volleyball, men's basketball, women's basketball, baseball, softball and men's and women's track and field/cross country. Many other sports are eligible through the At-Large program.

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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)