Howard Payne University’s Ross Sidman has earned the title of Distinguished Scholar-Athlete for men’s tennis in the American Southwest Conference, the league office announced on Tuesday. 

Ross Sidman, who majored in criminal justice with a 3.94 GPA, is a four-year letterman. Sidman played a key role in the Yellow Jackets making the ASC postseason tournament the past two seasons. He is a three-time Academic All-Conference selection, on the HPU President’s list and an All-Conference selection. He was HPU’s Scholar-Athlete award winner. Sidman is also a member of Sigma Theta Phi and has helped out with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Brownwood.

The honor, in its third academic year, recognizes student-athletes that achieve a higher level of academic achievement (a 3.20 grade-point average or better) while competing as a starter or important reserve on their team. From that list – limited to one nominee per school in each ASC championship sport – the Sports Information Directors from the conference’s 15 member institutions vote on a Distinguished Scholar-Athlete from each sport. 

Overall, 69 student-athletes from ASC baseball, men’s golf, women’s golf, softball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s track and field and women’s track and field were named to the Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team.