The University of Arizona snagged two academic awards Wednesday.
• Craig Sheedy, a senior on the Wildcats’ diving team, was the men’s winner of the NCAA’s Walter Byers Postgraduate Scholarship, given for outstanding academic accomplishment and superior citizenship. Sheedy will receive a $24,000 scholarship.
Sheedy has a 4.0 grade point average in biochemistry and molecular biophysics, plus a second major in physiology and a minor in Spanish. The Byers award was established in 1988. Sheedy is Arizona’s first recipient. He and USC women’s soccer player Ann Massey were chosen from among six finalists.
• The UA men’s cross country team was among almost 800 teams across the nation recognized for top academic performance as part of the NCAA academic reform program. Based on its most recent multi-year Academic Progress Rates, the UA squad earned an NCAA Public Recognition Award, given each year to teams scoring in the top 10 percent in each sport with their overall APRs.