Fairfax, Va. - Five George Mason rowers were recognized on Tuesday by The Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) when it announced its 2011 National Scholar-Athletes and All-Region selections. For the third consecutive year, senior Nadia Skolnitsky earned National Scholar-Athlete, while classmate Maureen McAuliffe was named to the All Mid-Atlantic Region First Team.

Sophomores Meredith Bennett, Madison Beumer and Victoria Owen, in addition to McAuliffe, joined Skolnitsky as CRCA National Scholar-Athletes for maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Mason was one of four Colonial Athletic Association member schools to appear on the list as Northeastern, Buffalo and Delaware also had rowers receive the honor.

To be eligible for scholar-athlete status, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore academically, compete in a minimum of 75 percent of the current spring races or race in a regional event and hold a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or greater for her career. Over 300 student-athletes from 61 Division I programs earned scholar-athlete recognition.

In addition to its scholar athletes, the CRCA also announced its Division I all-region award winners. McAuliffe represented Mason and the CAA on the All Mid-Atlantic Region First Team. Veronica Townsend of Northeastern earned All New England Region First Team honors.

The award recognizes the outstanding performances of rowers and coxswains from each of the five regions, organized into first and second-team selections. Nominated student-athletes are evaluated on the strength of their team's regional finish, coaches recommendations and 2,000-meter erg score. Nominees must be eligible student-athletes who have competed in their teams' varsity boat in 75 percent of the races this season.