BILLINGS, Mont. – A total of 40 Montana State University Billings student-athletes were recognized as members of the Chi Alpha Sigma National Honor Society on Wednesday evening during a ceremony in the Glacier Room.

Among the 40 award winners were 27 first-time recipients, who were inducted on Wednesday. Ten more students were recognized for the second straight year, and three fifth-year seniors were honored at the event for the third time. Dr. Scott Harris, the faculty athletic representative for MSUB's athletic department, served as master of ceremonies for the event and presented each athlete with their award. After spearheading the ceremony in 2013, Wednesday marked Dr. Harris's sixth and final induction presentation as he has announced his retirement upon the conclusion of the academic year.

"We would like to thank Scott for all of his service both as a member of the faculty here at MSUB and within the athletic department," said MSUB director of athletics Krista Montague. "Scott has always put the students first, and has been incredibly influential in helping numerous student-athletes complete their degrees."

Status within the Chi Alpha Sigma society is reserved for athletes of at least junior academic standing, who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.40 or higher while competing in a varsity sport.

Women's soccer junior captain Amanda Hemmen, who was a first-team Academic All-American in 2018, holds the highest GPA among the group with a perfect 4.0. Overall MSUB's women's soccer team had seven inductees and two returners, for a total of nine athletes which was the most in the department.

MSUB's baseball team had the most repeat honorees with four, and the women's cross country and track and field team had seven total honorees as well.

Brady Ostermiller of MSUB's track and field team, and Jared Winslow and Matt Dillon of the baseball team were the three student-athletes recognized for a third straight year.

About Chi Alpha Sigma: The nonprofit organization, founded in 1996, is designed to recognize NCAA and NAIA college athletes who stand out academically. It was established by former DePauw University head football coach Nick Mourouzis with the intention to create a fraternal association among outstanding student-athletes to share their success both on and off the field.

MSUB and Western Oregon University are the lone schools in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with Chi Alpha Sigma membership, and are two of just seven schools in the NCAA Division II west region to honor its student-athletes with the award. The University of Montana Western is the other institution in the state of Montana to hold membership within Chi Alpha Sigma.

For a full listing of the 2019 MSUB Chi Alpha Sigma inductees, as well as a list of historical selections, visit the MSUB Chi Alpha Sigma webpage online here.