Armstrong's Matt Motes Earns NCAA Degree Completion Award

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Armstrong Atlantic State University men's golfer Matt Motes has earned one of the NCAA's Degree Completion awards, given to NCAA student-athletes who are near the requirements to graduate but whose athletics eligibility has expired.

The senior from Augusta, Ga., recently completed his four-year career for the Pirates, earning not only All-Peach Belt Conference but GCAA Honorable Mention All-America honors in 2011-12. Academically, Motes carries a 3.80 GPA in rehabiliation sciences and is under 32 semester hours away from completing his degree. He was also the recipient of the 2011-12 President's Cup, given to the top student-athlete at Armstrong by the Savannah Exchange Club.

"This award is a tribute to Matt Motes' hard work in the classroom throughout his four years at Armstrong," Armstrong head men's golf coach Michael Butler said. "It's a great example for our men's program that a tremendous work ethic like Matt has displayed will be rewarded."

The NCAA established the Division II Degree-Completion Award Program in 2001 to provide deserving student-athletes financial assistance for them to complete their first baccalaureate degree. Candidates will be students who have exhausted their athletics eligibility and have received athletics financial aid. The selection process for the national award emphasizes the academic performance of the student-athlete. Other factors considered are financial circumstances, athletic achievement and involvement in campus and community activities.

Motes is the first Armstrong student-athlete to receive the Degree Completion award since 2003, when sisters Shaletra and Shanetra Hodge each received an award to complete their nursing degrees. The pair were members of Armstrong's 2002-03 Peach Belt Conference Champion women's basketball program.

For more information on the NCAA's Degree Competion Award program, click here.