DECATUR, Ala. - Ashford University was proud to announce that a trio of juniors on the women's soccer team in Kylie Willet of East Moline, Ill., Erika Jakobsen of Rock Island, Ill., and Kira Favaro of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, received status as Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

A total of 387 student-athletes nationwide were recognized for their work in the classroom and the selections brought Ashford's total number of NAIA Academic All-Americans up to 12 for the current academic year.

Nominated by each institution's head coach, candidates needed to be in junior status and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale to qualify.

All three Saints were selected for the first year in which they were eligible. After two seniors graduated from last year's team, Willet, Jakobsen and Favaro became the program's first recipients of the prestigious academic honor since Kelli Rogis in 2007.

The three juniors were named to the All-Midwest Collegiate Conference Academic Team last season as sophomores.

Willet, also a First Team All-MCC pick selection at goalkeeper, majors in Computer Graphic Design. Jakobsen is pursuing her degree in Secondary Education and Favaro is focusing her studies in Elementary Education, respectively.