Vest Highlights OU?s Academic Prowess

NORMAN – Oklahoma senior Jessica Vest's placement on the 2015 Capital One Academic All-America Division I Second Team highlights the success in the classroom achieved by the Sooners softball team this past season.

A pre-nursing and a multidisciplinary studies major with an emphasis in health and society, Vest achieved a 3.91 grade point average to become an Academic All-American for the first time in her career. She becomes the eighth Sooner in program history to be an Academic All-American and the first since Michelle Gascoigne in 2013.

The Academic All-American recognition for Vest comes on the heels of being named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District team for the third time in her career. She was joined on the first team along with Oklahoma junior Kelsey Stevens.

To be eligible for Academic All-America and All-District consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at her current institution and be nominated by her sports information director.

Within the conference, Vest and Stevens (entrepreneurship and venture management) were named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team along with seniors Georgia Casey, Callie Parsons and Shelby Pendley and junior Erin Miller.

Vest finished her career as a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First-Team selection, as did Parsons, health and exercise science major. Casey (management) was an all-conference honoree for the third time in her career, though this was her first time on the first team. Pendley (multidisciplinary studies) earned first-team honors for the second time in her OU career.

A visual communications major, Miller was an Academic All-Conference pick for the first time in her career.

First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA while the second team selections hold a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify for conference academic accolades, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of their team's scheduled contests.

Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.