Worcester, MA --- WPI softball standout Jen Richards has been named to the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America college division second team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (Co-SIDA).  Richards is the first WPI women's student-athlete to earn Academic All-America honors since Jessica McAlear took home second team accolades in crew in 2002.

The college division is comprised of NCAA Division II and III, NAIA and junior college programs.  The Hampstead, NH, native made the team at the designated player position.

Richards graduated from WPI on May 16 with a major in biomedical engineering.  Her IQP Project focused on "Preserving Traditional Boats of Venice" while her MQP studied the development of a minimally invasive procedure to correct coxofemoral luxation in dogs, a common hip dislocation ailment. Richards' sufficiency chronicled the use of prosthetics in the Civil War.  The senior boasted an impressive 3.89 GPA, and will continue her studies next fall when she begins the pursuit of a doctorate at Cornell University.

On the softball diamond, Richards split time between DP (19 games) and catcher (18) and led the team in home runs (8), doubles (4) and slugging percentage (.571).  She was second in the NEWMAC and 59th nationally in home runs per game. Richards batted .291 on the season and ranked second on the team in runs (20) and RBIs (23). Under the leadership of second-year head coach George Legacy, the Engineers finished the season 16-23, a four-win improvement from a year ago.

Richards joins fellow senior Ben Gilde as WPI's second Academic All-American this academic year.  Gilde picked up first team accolades last fall in men's soccer.  It is the 27th time an Engineer has been selected an Academic All-American and she is the 20th different WPI student-athlete to earn the honor.