Beckwith and Harden earn Academic All-District honors

OLIVET, Mich. – Olivet College seniors Kellen Beckwith (Farmington Hills/North Farmington) and Mike Harden (St. Johns) have been named to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-District IV at-large first-team as selected by College Sports Information Directors of America. Both advance to the College Division Academic All-America® ballot.

Beckwith has a perfect 4.0 grade point average in mathematics education. A member of the Comet swimming and diving team, he is the only male swimmer in school history to qualify for the national championships four times and is a four-time All-American in the 100 backstroke. Beckwith also won the 100 and 200 backstroke, and placed second in the 200 individual medley at the 2011 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Championships. He also holds the school record in all three events. In addition, Beckwith is the second swimmer and ninth among all athletes in school history to earn All-MIAA honors four consecutive years.

Outside of the pool, Beckwith is a member of Mathletes, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), Comet Christian Fellowship and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He has also performed various community service projects in Olivet as well as in his hometown.

Harden, who carries a 3.95 GPA, is majoring in biology with an environmental science minor. Also a member of the Olivet swimming team, he placed fifth in the 50 and 100 freestyle at the 2011 MIAA Championships. Harden holds the school record in the 50 freestyle and second-best time in the 100 freestyle. He also swam a leg of the school record 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

Outside the pool, Harden is the president of FCA and member of Sigma Zeta honor society, Science Club and Pi Pi Pi Society. He is also a senior resident advisor.

The Academic All-America® program recognizes student-athletes who have succeeded in athletic competition and in the classroom. The members of the All-District IV teams are selected by sports information directors in Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. To be eligible, the student-athlete must be a starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30.