BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech volleyball player Lindsey Owens and men’s track athlete Kevin Cianfarini were announced as the winners of the 2016 Skelton Award for Academic Excellence in Athletics at the AD’s Honors Breakfast held Sunday morning at the Inn at Virginia Tech.

Their academic successes, along with their success on the field and in the community, led to both receiving the award – the highest designation handed out by the Tech athletics department.

The Skelton Award, named after the late Dr. Bill and Peggy Skelton, goes each year to a rising junior, senior or fifth-year male and female student-athlete who has participated in intercollegiate athletics for at least two seasons at Tech and who holds an overall grade-point average of 3.40 or better. Each recipient receives a scholarship of $5,000.

Owens is a two-time member of the All-ACC volleyball squad. This past season, she earned second-team honors after starting 31 of 32 matches and leading the team with 400 kills. The Orlando, Florida native also led the team with 31 service aces.

Owens is pursuing a degree in biology and is scheduled to graduate in May of 2017.

Cianfarini, from West Deptford, New Jersey, serves as a middle distance runner for the Tech track and field and cross country squads. He recently set a personal record in the 1,500 at the Bison Outdoor Classic held on Bucknell’s campus with a time of 3:53.03. During the indoor season, he set a personal record at the ACC Championships, running the 800 in a time of 1:52.35. His best finish during cross country season was at the Hokie Open on Nov. 6 when he came in 10th with a time of 19:13.80 while running unattached.

Cianfarini will be a junior next fall and continues his pursuit of a degree in computer science.

Other student-athletes recognized at the AD’s Honors Breakfast included the more than 300 who achieved a grade-point average of 3.0 or better during one or both semesters in the preceding calendar year.

In addition, the athletics department recognized its Scholar-Athletes of the Year, an honor that goes to those with the highest GPA in the 2014 calendar year. This list of honorees included Torben Laidig (men’s track and field), Hanna Green (women’s cross country), Kelsey Mericka (softball), and Caroline Buscaglia (women’s swimming and diving).

Finally, the department recognized the 2015 All-Academic Team, which includes the top student-athlete academically in his/her sport. The list for this all-academic team include Garrett Hudson (baseball), Matthew Galloway (men’s basketball), Samantha Hill (women’s basketball), Nick Stegmuller (cheerleading), Vincent Ciattei (men’s cross country), Hanna Green (women’s cross country), Shai McKenzie (football), Ian Hildebrand (men’s golf), Amanda Hollandsworth (women’s golf), Maggie Mitchell (HighTechs), Gracee Hendrix (lacrosse), Calyn Witz (manager), Egidio Rossi (men’s soccer), Murielle Tiernan (women’s soccer), Kelsey Mericka (softball), Zachary Switzer (men’s swimming and diving), Caroline Buscaglia (women’s swimming and diving), Frederick Mesmer (men’s tennis), Francesca Fusinato (women’s tennis), Torben Laidig (men’s track and field), Emma King (women’s track and field), Juliette Parks (trainer), Samuel Vicroy (video), Lindsey Owens (volleyball), Solomon Chishko (wrestling).

For updates on Virginia Tech Athletics, follow the Hokies on Twitter Follow @hokiesports