General | 2/13/2026 11:00:00 AM
TRAFFORD, Pa. (pacathletics.org) - The first Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Scholar Athletes of the Month to be recognized in 2026 are senior Madison Nereu from Chatham University and junior Aiden Townsend from Franciscan University.
SAAC Scholar-Athlete of the Month award recognizes two upperclass student-athletes who have earned a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher, compete in a varsity sport, and participate in extracurricular activities on their campuses. These student-athletes exemplify the elite standard of their schools, the PAC, and the SAAC.
Madison Nereu from Cary, North Carolina, is the PAC’s first honoree of the month.
An exercise science major, Nereu has earned a spot on the Dean’s List honor roll for three straight semesters, carrying a 4.0 GPA.
During the month of January, Nereu was recognized as the Week 9 PAC Women’s Basketball Player of the Week. She averaged 19.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 steals, leading her team to two wins during the week of January 4th-10th. During that span, she also reached the milestone of her 1,000th career point against Waynesburg University. On January 31st versus the Westminster Titans, the senior Cougar was able to record her 11th double-double of her season, putting up 12 points, 10 rebounds, and a career high of seven assists. She is currently averaging 18.6 points per game and 9.8 rebounds per game.
Beyond competition, Nereu is a member of SAAC, along with volunteering at basketball clinics at the Boys and Girls Club of Pittsburgh. Volunteers are mentors, role models, tutors, and leaders offering encouragement and support in athletics and academics.
Female January honorable mention nominees included: Allegheny senior Jess Bickart (basketball); Bethany junior Madison Donelson (indoor track & field); Franciscan junior Teresa Meli (indoor track & field); Geneva senior Emily Garvin (basketball); Hiram senior Sarah Seaman (basketball); Waynesburg senior Kalista Friday (basketball); Westminster junior Jenna Zendron (indoor track & field).
A forward from Beaver, Pennsylvania, Aiden Townsend is the next January SAAC Scholar Athlete of the Month, representing Franciscan and the Barons’ men’s basketball program.
A junior management major, Townsend maintains a GPA of 3.59, earning him a spot of the PAC Academic Honor Roll twice.
Townsend has been a key player who has started in 10 of 19 games during his 2025-26 campaign. On January 7th, Townsend tallied 11 points to help his team to a PAC victory over Saint Vincent. He matched that total on January 24th, with 11 points, while adding four rebounds, two steals and one block in a road win over Thiel.
Off the court, Townsend volunteers locally with Urban Mission and other organizations in the downtown Steubenville area. Urban mission volunteers help with meal service, food pantry operations, shelter supports, community events, and numerous outreach projects.
Male January honorable mention nominees included: Bethany graduate student Troy Hixson (basketball); W&J senior Alex Acosta (basketball); Westminster junior Jack Crider (indoor track & field).