LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Class was in session for two different semesters over the course of the winter season, but it did not sway the five Biola athletes who earned Scholar-Athlete nods.
 
Andre Murillo and Cody Wittick, Biola men's basketball's two graduating seniors each earned Golden State Athletic Conference scholar-athlete recognition and are up for Daktronics-NAIA scholar-athlete awards. Christine Tixier, Megan Nerud and Scott West were among the 61 swimmers across the nation to earn Daktronics-NAIA scholar-athlete recognition.
 
Tixier and Nerud are both juniors for Head Coach Eddie Shepard's squad, and they each earned the scholar-athlete title for the first time this season. Tixier earns her second academic honor, after she became a Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-American last season.
 
West was one of just 19 men's swimmers in the entire country to earn NAIA scholar-athlete recognition. He is a junior biological sciences major. All three swimmers to earn the national award were a part of the Eagles' national team.
 
In order to be considered for an NAIA scholar-athlete award the student-athletes must be at least a junior and have a cumulative grade point average higher than 3.50.
 
This was Murillo's second GSAC scholar-athlete award. He was also named a scholar-athlete following his first season in Biola red (2011-12). In addition to his academic honor, Murillo was named to the All-GSAC team this season for his contributions on the court.
 
This was Wittick's first time winning the scholar-athlete honor. The requirements for the conference award match those for the NAIA honor. Each of these student-athletes is now eligible to be named an NAIA scholar-athlete, which is announced following the national tournament.