MIAMI (July 16, 2014) – The College Swimming Coaches Association of America has named its Scholar All-American teams and FIU senior Sonia Perez has earned first team recognition. To qualify, a swimmer must have a 3.5 GPA and have competed at the NCAA Championships.
 
Perez was the only C-USA swimmer to qualify for the finals and score at the NCAA Championships. The Honorable Mention All-American swam in the 200 IM, 400 IM, and the 200 backstroke at the NCAA Championships. A two-time C-USA Swimmer of the Week, Perez was a conference champion in the 400 IM and was undefeated in all meets prior to competing at the NCAA Championships. Her 400 IM time at the C-USA Championships set the championship record. She finishes her FIU career with school records in the 500 freestyle, 1000 freestyle, 1650 freestyle and 400 IM.

Perez was a driving force at the NCAA Championships, as she became the first swimmer in school history to qualify for the finals in an NCAA Championship event. Perez swam a prelims time of 4:10.27 in the 400 IM, qualifying her for the evening session. She then swam even faster in the finals, earning a mark of 4:10.17, the second-fastest time in program history. She finished 13th overall at the NCAA's, the highest-ever finish for an FIU swimmer in any event.
 
Perez's award comes after the CSCAA announced the 2014 Scholar All-America Team Awards supported by Nike Swim, as the FIU swimming and diving team was recognized with a 3.13 team GPA.

The Team Scholar All American Award is presented to college and university swimming and diving teams, who have achieved a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The award is presented twice annually, once in the fall semester and again in the spring to recognize teams achieving a 3.0 in the semester coinciding with the NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA/CCCAA Swimming and Diving Championships.

Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUSwimDive) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSwimmingAndDiving) for all the latest Swimming and Diving news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).

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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and at the FIU Football Stadium.

About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelor¹s, master¹s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU is Worlds Ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded 200,000 degrees and enrolls 50,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU is Worlds Ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded 200,000 degrees and enrolls 50,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.