The Misericordia University athletics department kicked off D-III Week with its annual Scholar-Athlete luncheon, Monday, April 7.
 
In addition to recognizing more than 300 student-athletes with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.40, MU also named its 2024-25 Scholar-Athletes of the Year – Julia Beck and Jared Piontkowski.

Beck, a senior women's soccer player, earned the award for the second consecutive year.  She carries a 3.99 GPA in the physical therapy doctoral program after earning her bachelor's degree in psychology.

Piontkowski is a senior on the men's volleyball team and maintains a 3.91 GPA in business administration.

Beck was named the MAC Women's Soccer Senior Scholar-Athlete of the Year and was named to the Academic All-MAC team.

She earned Academic All-American honors from the College Sports Communicators and was a second-team United Soccer Coaches All-American.

She was a first-team All-MAC Freedom selection and was the Offensive Player of the Year.

Piontkowski was a College Sports Communicator Academic All-American and Academic All-MAC selection as a junior.

He was the first All-American in program history and was the Misericordia Wendy's Athlete of the Year .

He currently ranks third among all active players in career kills.